THE 

MAYFAIR 


7859  MELROSE  AVENUE 
HOLLYWOOD.  CALIF. 


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AND  SNATCHING   OFF  HER  BETROTHAL  RING,  SHE   FLUNG   IT    INTO    THE    WATER    AT 

HER  FEET.— Page  130.  In  the  Counselor's  House. 


IN  THE  **    **    **    **    **    **    <* 

COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE 

By  E.   MARLITT 


Author  of  "  OLD  MA'M'SELLE'S  SECRET,"  "GOLD 
ELSIE,"  "IN  THE  SCHILL1NGSCOURT,"  etc.,  etc. 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  GERMAN 

BY    ANNIE    WOOD 


A.  L.  BURT,  PUBLISHER,  52-58  DUANE 
STREET,  NEW  YORK     j*       *       *       * 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  slanting  rays  of  the  December  sun  played  dimly  across 
a  large  bedroom  in  the  Mill-house,  glittered  for  a  moment  with 
dazzling  brightness  on  a  case  of  surgical  instruments  which  lay 
exposed  to  view  in  the  embrasure  of  the  deep  stone  window- 
sill,  and  then  vanished  through  the  thick,  overhanging  snow- 
clouds  in  the  sky. 

In  a  corner  of  the  room,  away  from  the  glare  of  the  light, 
stood  a  massive  wooden  bedstead,  ornamented  at  the  head  and 
foot  with  paintings  of  common  yellow  roses  and  bright  pinks, 
with  a  large  feather-bed  heaped  high  upon  it,  on  which  lay  the 
master  of  the  house,  the  miller.  He  had  just  gone  through  an 
operation  for  a  tumor  in  the  throat,  which  had  many  times 
threatened  to  suffocate  him;  it  had  been  a  difficult  and  very 
dangerous  proceeding,  but  the  clever  young  man  who  had  just 
lowered  the  blinds,  and  was  arranging  his  instruments  in  their 
case  at  the  window-sill,  had  a  satisfied  expression  on  his  face, 
for  the  operation  had  been  successful. 

While  under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  the  patient  had 
raved  and  tried  to  resist  the  hand  of  the  doctor,  at.  if  he  were 
fully  conscious  of  the  pain  inflicted  upon  him;  but  now  he  lay 
pale  and  exhausted  upon  the  pillows,  and  very  still.  To  speak 
he  was  forbidden;  yet  a  glance  at  the  laconic,  silent-looking 
face,  whose  only  beauty  was  the  soft  shining  silver  hair  which 
hung  about  it,  would  have  convinced  a  looker-on  that  the  doc- 
tor's command  was  very  unnecessary. 

"Are  you  hopeful,  Bruck?"  asked  a  gentleman,  in  alow 
tone,  as  he  drew  near  the  young  doctor.  Up  to  this  moment 
he  had  been  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  his  handsome 
face  still  bore  marks  of  the  emotion  the  sight  of  the  operation 
had  produced  on  one  unaccustomed  to  such  scenes. 

The  young  doctor  nodded. 

"  Everything  is  well  as  yet,  and  my  patient's  strong  consti- 
tution will  aid  and  complete  my  work,  I  am  convinced  of 
that/'  he  answered,  calmly,  as  he  turned  his  eyes  with  a  satis* 


2225127 


8  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

fied  air  toward  the  bed  in  the  corner;  "  and  now  I  must  leave 
off  watching  here;  I  am  obliged  to  go.  My  patient  must  on 
no  account  move,  he  must  be  kept  very  quiet— everything  de- 
pends on  his  being  still,  for  fear  of  bleeding,  and — 

"  You  may  depend  upon  me,"  interrupted  the  other,  quick- 
ly; "I  shall  remain  here  as  long  as  the  old  man  is  in  danger, 
or  it  is  necessary  for  him  to  be  watched;"  adding,  "  Will  you 
tell  them  in  the  villa  that  I  shall  not  return  to  tea?" 

The  color  deepened  on  the  young  doctor 's  cheeks,  and  his 
tone  had  a  somewhat  sad  ring  in  it,  as  he  replied: 

"  I  can't  go  that  roundabout  way  through  the  park,  for  I 
must  reach  town  as  soon  as  possible. " 

"  But  you  have  not  seen  Flora  to-day,  and — " 

"  Don't  you  think  I  know  that?  or  that  it  costs  me  nothing 
to  give  her  up?"  and  he  drew  his  lips  together,  and  hesitated, 
as  he  put  his  case  of  instruments  in  his  pocket.  "  I  have 
many  sick  patients  to  attend  to  to-day,"  he  added,  after  a  mo- 
ment, more  quietly;  "  Lenery's  little  girl  is  dying — will  die  in 
all  probability  to-night;  I  can't  do  anything  for  the  child,  but 
the  parents,  who  are  worn  out  with  nursing  and  anxiety,  count 
the  moments  until  my  visit,  I  know;  the  poor  mother  won't 
even  eat  unless  I  make  her. " 

He  moved  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  the  invalid  raised  the  lids 
of  his  eyes,  and  looked  at  the  doctor  for  a  moment  with  an 
expression  of  warm  gratitude  shining  over  his  sunken  features 
for  the  unspeakable  relief  the  absence  of  the  tumor  gave  him, 
and  feebly  tried  to  stretch  out  his  hand;  but  the  doctor  held  it 
quiet  on  the  coverlid,  as  he  repeated  his  injunctions  that  he 
must  lie  completely  still,  and  try  and  not  move  at  all,  adding: 

"  The  counselor  intends  staying  with  you,  Herr  Sommer, 
and  will  see  that  my  orders  are  faithfully  carried  out." 

The  old  man  seemed  content,  turned  his  eyes  languidly  to- 
ward the  counselor,  as  if  seeking  in  his  face  for  a  confirmation 
of  the  doctor's  words,  and  receiving  a  friendly  assuring  nod  in 
return,  closed  his  eyes,  as  if  he  wished  to  sleep. 

The  doctor  turned  away  from  the  bed,  took  up  his  hat, 
shook  hands  with  the  counselor,  and  left  the  chamber. 

Had  an  anxious  loving  wife  been  sitting  by  that  bedside,  she 
must  have  felt,  as  the  door  closed  behind  the  young  man,  a 
feeling  of  loneliness  and  desolation  creep  over  her,  contrasting 
strongly  with  the  hope  and  confidence  which  imbued  the  poor 
woman  in  the  town  whose  child  was  dying,  when  an  hour  later 
the  doctor  entered  her  room  and  persuaded  her  to  eat  the  meal 
the  suffering  of  her  little  one  had  caused  her  to  forget. 

But  by  the  miller's  bedside  no  loving  hand  or  tender  worn- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S 

an's  anxiety  had  a  place.  The  old  housekeeper  came  in 
quietly  enough  after  the  operation  was  over,  arid  noiselessly 
began  clearing  away  the  disorder  consequent  upon  the  doctor's 
visit;  but  she  seemed  more  distressed  at  the  sight  of  a  few 
drops  of  water  spilled  on  the  table-cloth  than  by  the  danger 
and  suffering  of  her  old  master. 

"  Do  let  all  that  alone  now,  missus,"  said  the  counselor,  ill 
a  low  but  very  polite  tone.  "  The  movement  of  those  things 
will  disturb  father,  and  the  doctor  ordered,  before  all  things, 
the  most  perfect  quiet." 

The  woman  did  as  she  was  bid  at  once,  taking  with  her  the 
basin  and  towels  and  the  unfortunate  wet  table-cloth  to  be 
dried  in  the  kitchen. 

Now  all  was  as  silent  and  noiseless  as  it  is  possible  for  a 
mill-house  to  be.  From  under  the  floor  came  the  faint  con- 
stant recurring  burr  and  trembling  of  the  mills,  the  very 
monotony  of  which  was  almost  soothing  in  its  effect — outside, 
the  continual  flapping  of  the  water  against  the  mill-wheel,  the 
cooing  of  the  doves,  and  the  rustling  of  the  twigs  as  the  huge 
branches  of  the  chestnut-trees  swayed  to  and  fro  in  the  evening 
breeze,  could  not  and  did  not  disturb  the  invalid  on  the  bed, 
for  to  him  they  were  as  natural  as  the  air  he  breathed,  or  the 
regular  beatings  of  his  own  heart. 

What  a  hard  unloving  face  it  was  on  which  that  elegant  man 
standing  by  the  bedside  was  now  gazing.  Perhaps  never  be- 
fore in  the  whole  course  of  his  life  had  the  excessive  plainness 
of  his  face,  the  hard,  coarse  features,  the  thick  under  lip, 
looked  so  distinctly  repulsive  as  just  now  when  the  sleep  of  ex- 
haustion from  physical  and  mental  suffering  deepened  the  fur- 
rows in  the  miller's  countenance,  and  sharpened  the  stamp  of 
his  character  more  clearly  about  the  mouth.  Well,  the  old 
man's  life  had  been  a  rough  one,  at  all  events  for  a  great  many 
years.  He  had  started  on  his  career  as  a  sort  of  miller's 
errand-boy,  but  now  he  was  a  man  who  had  made  his  way  in 
the  world,  and  been  able  to  coin  for  himself  gold  and  position, 
which  perhaps  accounted  for  the  counselor's  respectful  mode 
of  speaking  and  calling  him  "  father/'  for  there  was  certainly 
no  tie  of  relationship  between  them.  The  late  banker  Man- 
gold, whose  eldest  daughter  had  married  the  counselor,  had 
taken  for  a  second  wife  the  miller's  only  child;  and  this  link 
of  marriage  was  the  only  connection  between  the  suffering  old 
man  lying  on  the  huge  painted  bedstead  and  his  faithful 
watcher. 

The  counselor  moved  away  from  the  bedside  and  went  over 
to  one  of  the  windows.  He  was  a  young,  energetic-looking 


10  IN  T&E  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.- 

man,  but  the  silence  and  anxious  watching  in  the  sick-room 
made  him  feel  nervous — it  seemed  to  pain  him  to  look  at  noth- 
ing but  that  hard,  un sympathizing  countenance  on  the  pillows, 
and  the  knotted,  clinched  hand  lying  nerveless  on  the  bed- 
clothes, which  had  formerly  cracked  the  whip  over  the  heads  of 
the  mill  horses  with  so  much  force  and  will.  He  gazed  out  of 
window  and  for  a  few  moments  idly  watched  the  landscape 
stretched  before  him.  The  December  sun  had  withdrawn  its 
feeble  rays,  and  a  gray,  soft  light,  fast  fading  into  the  dark- 
ness of  the  coming  night,  seemed  to  cover  the  whole  earth. 

Just  beyond  the  spot  where  it  turned  the  mill-wheel,  the 
river  made  a  sudden  bend,  and  here,  half  hidden  from  view  by 
the  branches  of  the  trees,  stood  a  square  building,  ugly  in  form 
and  appearance,  the  hard  outlines  of  which  gloomed  strangely 
in  contrast  to  the  graceful  curves  of  the  swaying  trees  in  the 
fast-approaching  darkness. 

It  was  the  spinning-mill  belonging  to  the  young  man  stand- 
ing by  the  window.  He,  too,  was  rich,  employing  several  hun- 
dred workmen  in  his  manufactory,  and  it  was  this  property  of 
his  which  had  brought  him  into  close  business  relations  with 
the  miller.  The  mill  itself  had  been  built  about  a  hundred 
years  before,  and  had  certain  privileges  attached  to  it  which 
were  in  force  at  the  present  day,  besides  controlling  so  much 
of  the  river  that  those  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood  were  in- 
clined to  grumble  at  its  excess  on  this  point;  and  not  one  of 
these  rights  would  the  miller  cede  so  much  as  by  one  inch.  At 
first  only  a  tenant,  he  had,  bit  by  bit,  as  his  riches  increased, 
succeeded  in  becoming  not  only  owner  of  the  mill  and  its  water- 
rights,  but  of  the  whole  surrounding  land  to  which  it  belonged. 
He  had  bought  the  last  few  acres  shortly  before  the  marriage  of 
his  only  child  to  Herr  Mangold  the  banker.  The  miller  re- 
garded the  possession  of  all  this  property  from  a  purely  mone- 
tary point  of  view;  for  himself  he  did  not  care  to  own  the  land, 
and  thereby  increase  his  importance  in  the  social  scale,  but 
that  his  daughter  might  reign  over  it  as  mistress  he  did  care, 
and  for  this  reason  he  had  refused  to  sell  the  handsome  villa 
inclosed  in  a  noble  park,  which  formed  one  portion  of  it. 

Lately  the  merchant  had  become  his  tenant,  and,  at  the 
time  our  story  begins,  occupied  the  villa  with  his  family,  and 
by  yielding  at  first  to  the  old  man's  weakness  about  the  disput- 
ed water-rights,  he  had  gradually  fallen  into  the  position  of  an 
obedient  son  to  his  somewhat  surly  and  ill-tempered  landlord. 

The  factory  clock  had  just  struck  four,  and  the  gas  was 
already  lighted  in  the  offices.  The  air  was  damp  and  heavy, 
»s  often  happens  before  a  coming  fall  of  snow,  and  the  gather- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  11 

ing  darkness  intensified  the  brightness  of  the  light  shining 
from  the  windows  of  the  far-distant  spinning-mill,  as  well  as 
those  which  were  nearer  at  hand.  The  pigeons,  after  huddling 
close  together  for  awhile  under  the  shelter  of  the  tall  trees, 
suddenly  flew  away  from  off  the  branches,  and  hurried  to  roost 
in  the  warm  dry  cover  of  the  dove-cote.  The  merchant  felt 
chilly  standing  at  the  window,  and  turned  toward  the  interior 
of  the  room.  As  his  eyes  glanced  over  the  apartment  it  struck 
him  what  a  very  pleasant,  homely  looking  place  it  was  with  its 
well-worn  carpet,  discolored  prints  on  the  walls,  and  wide,  old- 
fashioned  sofa  inviting  one  to  lounge  in  comfortable  ease  on  its 
soft  pillows.  The  old  servant  brought  in  some,  fresh  logs  of 
wood,  and  replenished  the  dying  fire  in  the  open  stove,  just  as 
the  last  glimmer  of  daylight  was  fading  through  the  shining 
glass  of  the  communicating  door  of  the  adjoining  small  room. 
Behind  this  door  stood  the  iron  safe  in  which,  the  miller  kept 
his  money  and  papers  of  value. 

About  an  hour  before  the  operation  was  to  be  performed  the 
sick  man  had  made  his  will;  and  as  the  young  doctor  and  the 
merchant  entered  the  house,  they  had  met  the  lawyers  and 
witnesses  to  the  signature  on  the  door-step  about  to  depart. 
However  cool  and  collected  the  outer  mien  of  the  miller  had 
been,  he  must  inwardly  have  felt  strangely  nervous  and  upset, 
for  in  putting  away  the  documents  he  had  just  signed,  his  hand 
shook  visibly,  and  one  of  the  papers  remained  behind  on  the 
table.  He  did  not  notice  this  unwonted  proof  of  oversight  on 
his  own  part  till  after  the  doctor  and  his  friend  had  entered 
the  room,  and  then,  as  he  saw  it  lying  on  the  table,  he  begged 
the  merchant  to  lock  it  up  in  the  safe  in  the  adjoining  cabinet. 
On  the  other  side  of  this  small  room  there  was  an  outer  door 
which  led  into  the  large  entrance-hall,  where  numbers  of  the 
people  belonging  to  the  mill  hung  about  on  business. 

The  merchant  stood  warming  his  half-frozen  fingers  by  the 
stove,  when  his  eye  wandered  carelessly  toward  the  inner  little 
room.  He  started,  and  for  a  moment  wondered  if  he  were 
dreaming,  for  he  saw  that  the  door  of  the  iron  safe  stood  open. 
Ah!  if  the  miller  had  noticed  it,  what  a  state  of  anxiety  he 
would  be  in  about  his  beloved  gold!  "  K"o  one  can  have  en- 
tered the  room, "  the  merchant  said  to  himself  as  he  walked 
into  the  little  sanctum,  "  for  I  should  have  heard  the  slightest 
footfall;  besides,  the  opening  of  the  outer  door  could  not  have 
passed  unnoticed  by  me,"  and  added,  as  a  kind  of  comfort  to 
his  own  anxiety;  "  however,  I  must  see  if  everything  is  all 
right/' 

So  saying,  he  drew  back  the  safe-door  as  gently  as  possible. 


12  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

and  passed  in.  It  appeared  all  right,  the  heavy  money-bags 
of  the  formerly  poor  errand-boy  stood  by  the  side  of  the  piles 
of  paper  arranged  in  order,  and  many  shining  gold  pieces  were 
there  also.  The  merchant's  dazzled  gaze  wandered  in  search 
of  the  paper  he  had  hastily  pushed  into  one  of  the  pigeon-holes 
at  the  miller's  request;  it  was  a  valuable  document,  being  the 
inventory  of  the  whole  property.  He  was  laying  it  carefully 
on  the  top  of  a  packet  of  similar  documents,  when  he  accident- 
ally knocked  over  one  of  the  small  piles  of  gold  pieces,  which 
rolled  down  on  to  the  uncarpeted  floor  with  a  clanging,  clank- 
ing sound  that  made  him  shudder.  He  had  unwittingly 
touched  gold  belonging  to  another,  and  the  blood  flew  into  his 
face  with  an  undefined  sense  of  shame  and  vexation  at  his  awk- 
wardness as  he  stooped  to  pick  up  the  scattered  pieces.  He 
had  barely  reached  one,  when  a  large,  heavy  body  fell  on  him 
from  behind,  and  strong  bony  fingers  grasped  his  throat. 

"  Damn  you,  I  am  not  dead  yet!"  hissed  the  miller  in  his 
ear,  in  a  strangely  choked  voice,  as  he  tried  to  drag  him  out  of 
the  cabinet 

A  tussle  ensued,  in  which  the  young  man  had  to  call  up  all 
his  strength  and  elasticity  of  movement  to  shake  himself  free 
from  the  murderous  clutch  of  the  old  man  on  his  throat.  To 
seize  the  miller  with  both  hands  and  violently  wrench  his 
fingers  from  their  hold  on  his  neck  was  the  work  of  a  moment; 
but  it  required  one  or  two  more  before  he  could  recover  breath 
enough  to  gasp: 

"  Are  you  mad,  Pater?  How  could  you  insult  me  with — " 
but  he  broke  off  as  the  sick  man  tottered  against  the  wall,  and 
the  white  bands  round  his  throat  and  chin  became  suddenly 
scarlet  in  hue,  and  red  drops  of  blood  trickled  fast  down  the 
front  of  his  night-shirt. 

The  merchant  shuddered,  and  his  face  paled  to  an  ashen- 
gray  as  he  saw  this  dangerous  sign.  This,  then,  was  the  bleed- 
ing that  the  doctor  had  said  must  by  all  means  be  avoided. 
"  Am  I  in  fault?"  he  asked  himself  rapidly;  "  am  I  to  blame?" 

"No,  no,"  he  cried  aloud  in  answer  to  this  unexpressed 
thought  as  he  sprung  forward,  and  gently  putting  his  arms 
round  the  miller's  form,  would  have  carried  him  back  to  his 
bed;  but  the  obstinate  old  man  repulsed  him,  and  pointing 
silently  to  the  fallen  Louis  d'or,  intimated  his  intention  of  re- 
maining where  he  was  till  they  were  all  safe  in  their  place. 
To  the  danger  he  ran  of  losing  his  life  by  this  proceeding  he 
either  paid  no  heed  or  forgot  it  in  his  anxiety  over  his  money; 
and  it  was  not  till  the  merchant  had  picked  up  each  piece,  laid 
it  on  the  shelf,  and,  locking  the  safe,  placed  the  key  in  his 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  13 

hand,  that  the  miller  with  feeble,  tottering  steps,  allowed  him- 
self to  be  led  back  to  his  room,  and  sunk  exhausted  and  faint 
on  his  bed.  The  moment  the  merchant  had  placed  the  in- 
valid's head  on  the  pillows,  he  called  as  loud  as  he  could  for 
the  old  housekeeper  and  the  servants.  When  they  came  in, 
the  miller's  eyes  were  fixed  in  a  glassy,  frightened  ga^e  on  the 
broad  purple  mark  the  flowing  blood  had  already  made  on  the 
linen  sheets  and  pillow-case. 

A  messenger  was  dispatched  with  all  haste  to  the  town  to 
fetch  back  Dr.  Bruck,  while  the  housekeeper  brought  water 
and  fresh  linen  to  try  and  stop  the  bleeding.  It  was  all  in 
vain.  The  merchant  pressed  towel  after  towel  on  tho  wound- 
ed place,  but  the  blood  could  not  be  suppressed.  There  was 
no  doubt  about  it,  one  of  the  arteries  must  have  given  way. 
And  how  did  that  happen?  Had  the  half -delirious  old  man 
done  it  himself,  or — and  the  merchants  heart  gave  a  great 
start — had  he  done  it  when  he  was  endeavoring  to  free  himself 
from  the  grasp  of  his  angry  assailant?  "  How  was  it  possible 
for  me  to  tell  in  such  a  moment  of  agony,  when  he  was  hold- 
ing my  throat  in  a  vise,  whether  I  seized  his  shoulder,  or  neck, 
or  arm,  to  shake  off  his  hold  on  me?"  he  thought,  as  he 
watched  the  extreme  pallor  of  the  dying  man's  face.  "  Per- 
haps* the  sudden  spring  out  of  bed  did  it — Bruck  told  him 
everything  depended  on  his  lying  still  and  not  moving.  No, 
no,  my  conscience  is  clear  on  this  point;  it  was  not  my  fault, 
and  I  can  not,  need  not,  blame  myself.  It  is  his  own  doing 
entirely.  I  went  to  the  safe  merely  to  see  if  all  was  right;  how 
could  he  dare  mistrust  me,  and  suspect  me  of  any  such  base 
design  as  he  seems  to  have  harbored  concerning  me?"  And 
the  feelings  of  anxiety  and  fright  about  the  invalid  in  which 
the  merchant  had  hitherto  indulged,  now  changed  to  one  of 
anger  at  the  insult  he  had  received.  This  was  all  he  had  got 
in  return  for  his  kindness — a  kindness  he  would  have  offered 
to  any  one  who  was  weak  and  helpless,  it  is  true,  for  his  nature 
was  such  that  he  could  never  refuse  to  forget  himself  for  an- 
other's good  and  well-being.  But  if  he  had  returned  home, 
enjoyed  the  game  of  whist  in  his  elegant  drawing-room  which 
he  had  looked  forward  to  all  day,  this  unfortunate  circum- 
stance would  not  have  happened.  Instead  of  being  here  now 
trying  to  stanch  the  fast-flowing  life-blood,  he  might  have 
been  taking  a  comfortable  smoke !  It  must  have  been  his  evil 
genius  which  prompted  him  to  take  up  this  position  of  watcher 
by  the  old  man's  bedside;  and  this  was  the  awkward  predica- 
ment in  which  it  had  placed  him;  and  as  these  thoughts  occupied 
his  head,  his  hands  grefr  more  and  more  wet  with  the  stream 


14  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

that  still  continued  to  ooze  from  the  lately  operated-on  throat. 
How  slowly  the  moments  went  by!  The  invalid  seemed  fully 
aware  of  his  danger,  and  although  he  could  not  speak,  his  eyes 
wandered  anxiously  toward  the  door  each  time  a  footfall  was 
heard  outside,  as  if  he  hoped  for  a  reprieve  from  approaching 
death  by  the  appearance  of  the  doctor,  while  the  merchant 
watched  with  painful  anxiety  the  changes  in  the  sick  man's 
face,  which  betokened,  even  to  an  inexperienced  eye,  that  hir 
last  hour  was  at  hand. 

The  housekeeper  brought  in  the  lamp,  then  hastened  out  of 
the  room  again  to  listen  for  the  doctor's  voice;  but  she  heard 
nothing,  and  returning  to  the  bedside  she  too  stood  watching 
in  silence  the  pale,  exhausted  face,  rendered  almost  ghastly  by 
the  flickering  light  of  the  lamp.  A  few  minutes  later  the 
miller's  eyes  closed,  and  the  key  he  had  held  firmly  in  his  hand 
slipped  from  his  grasp  and  fell  on  the  sheet,  for  he  had  faint- 
ed from  loss  of  blood.  Unconsciously  the  merchant  stretched 
out  his  fingers  to  move  the  key  away,  but  the  moment  he 
touched  the  cold  steel,  a  shudder  ran  through  his  whole  frame 
as  the  thought  struck  him,  how  would  the  world  regard  the 
late  unfortunate  encounter  in  the  inner  cabinet?  He  knew 
that  it  would  be  whispered  all  over  town  the  next  morning  that 
the  operation  had  been  successful,  but  that  the  shock  of  seeing 
the  merchant  at  his  strong  chest  had  brought  on  the  bleeding, 
from  which  the  miller  did  not  recover;  and  that  in  itself  would 
be  a  slur  on  his  honor,  for  how  was  he  to  defend  himself  and 
prove  the  innocence  of  an  action  that  would  look  so  black  in' 
the  eyes  of  others? — the  very  thought  that  even  only  one  slan- 
derous tongue  might  remark:  "Why  should  Herr  Homer  go 
to  the  strong  safe  of  the  miller  at  all?"  made  his  blood  boil. 
He  had  enemies  he  knew  who  would  be  very  glad  to  believe 
him  capable  of  such  a  mean  act.  He  smiled  bitterly  to  him- 
self as  he  remembered  that  bis  hitherto  unblemished  character 
and  high  repute  for  unswerving  honor  would  not  be  sufficient  to 
exonerate  him  from  the  foul  suspicion  which  would  follow  the 
knowledge  of  his  presence  in  the  private  sanctum  at  that  crit- 
ical time.  The  perspiration  rolled  from  his  forehead  with  the 
intensity  of  his  anguish  as  he  stooped  over  the  dying  man,  and 
looked  earnestly  at  him.  If  the  miller  did  not  recover  strength 
enough  to  relate  the  affair  before  his  death,  then  the  event 
would  be  buried  with  him.  "  For/'  thought  the  merchant  to 
himself,  with  a  changed  expression  as  he  pressed  his  lips  to- 
gether, "  I  will  never  mention  it  to  a  human  being." 

Presently  the  watch-dog  barked  suddenly,  and  hasty  steps 
traversed  the  yard  and  mounted  the  staircase.  For  a  moment 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  15 

Dr.  Bruck  stood  motionless  on  the  threshold  of  the  door,  as  if 
turned  into  stone,  then  silently  laying  his  hat  on  the  table,  he 
advanced  to  the  bedside  of  the  dying  man.  What  a  painful 
silence  reigned  in  the  room  in  spite  of  this  fresh  arrival ! 

"  He  will  come  to  again,  won't  he,  Herr  Doctor?"  asked 
the  housekeeper,  in  an  awed  whisper. 

"  Hardly/'  replied  the  doctor,  looking  up  from  a  grave  ex- 
amination of  the  waxen  face  on  the  pillows,  his  own  cheeks 
white  as  the  linen  on  the  bed.  "  Control  yourself,"  he  added, 
sternly,  as  Susanne  seemed  inclined  to  break  into  a  flood  of 
weeping,  "  and  tell  me  why  my  patient  left  his  bed?"  he  add- 
ed, as  he  pointed  to  the  drops  of  blood  on  the  floor. 

"  That  must  come  from  these  soaked  towels,"  the  merchant 
explained  in  a  quiet,  firm  voice,  though  his  face  was  pale  to 
the  lips. 

"  \Vhy,  of  course  he  has  not  stirred  from  his  bed,  doctor; 
how  could  he,  poor  man?  and  you  told  him  yourself  not  to 
move,"  replied  Susanne. 

Dr.  Bruck  shook  his  head. 

"  The  bleeding  must  have  been  caused  by  some  movement 
— he  must  have  made  some  violent  effort  to — " 

"  Not  that  I  am  aware  of,  I  assure  you,"  replied  the  mer- 
chant, meeting  the  inquiring,  earnest  look  of  the  doctor's  eyes 
with  a  tolerably  steady  gaze.  "Besides,  what  do  you  mean 
by  staring  at  me  like  that?  Do  you  think  I  would  conceal  it 
from  you  if  your  patient  had  sprung  out  of  bed  in  some  de- 
lirious fancy?" 

He  was  determined  to  hold  fast  to  the  vow  he  had  just  made 
of  keeping  his  own  counsel  respecting  the  episode  in  the  inner 
room.  To  guard  his  own  honor  he  would  tell  the  boldest  false- 
hood, though  his  throat  felt  as  if  grasped  in  a  vise  as  he  uttered 
the  last  words. 

The  young  doctor  turned  silently  away.  Once  for  a  mo- 
ment the  dying  miller  raised  his  eyelids  and  gazed  vacantly  be- 
fore him,  and  made  a  slight  effort  to  speak,  but  the  sound  from 
his  lips  was  only  a  faint  murmur  that  had  no  meaning. 

A  few  hours  later,  Herr  Homer  the  merchant  left  the  Mill- 
house,  for  all  was  over — the  miller  was  dead.  Broad  strips  of 
paper  were  stretched  over  the  bedroom  and  adjoining  cabinet; 
for  as  soon  as  the  miller  had  breathed  his  last,  the  merchant 
had  taken  care  to  have  everything  sealed  up  in  safety  before 
his  eyes. 


THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

SLOWLY  he  walked  through  the  park  toward  home.  The 
gleam  of  the  lights  from  the  Mill-house  windows  vanished  be- 
hind him  as  he  went  forth  into  the  darkness,  alone  with  his 
thoughts.  The  wind  swept  around  him  sharp  and  piercing, 
cold  snow-flakes  rested  on  his  cheeks,  but  it  was  neither  the  wind 
nor  the  snow  which  caused  him  to  shiver  as  if  with  cold,  but 
rather  the  bitterness  of  his  own  reflections,  and  the  remem- 
brance of  the  last  few  hours'  excitement.  Early  in  the  after- 
noon, as  a  happy,  careless  man,  he  had  passed  over  the  same 
path  he  was  now  treading,  and  a  few  hours  later  he  seemed  as 
if  he  was  burdened  with  the  consciousness  of  being  the  innocent 
cause  of  a  fellow-creature's  death;  he  who  would  not  willingly 
have  harmed  or  hurt  the  lowest  animal  on  the  earth.  He 
knew  that  the  only  reproach  he  deserved  was  that  of  silence, 
but  by  being  silent  he  injured  no  one — not  one  individual 
would  suffer,  and — bah!  he  would  reflect  about  the  affair  no 
longer — he  was  weary  of  it.  Before  him  streamed  the  bright 
lights  of  the  windows  and  doors  of  the  lower  story  of  his  home; 
he  was  nearing  the  villa,  walking  up  the  broad  avenue  of 
linden-trees  which  led  to  the  house,  and  he  knew  that,  once 
inside  that  pleasant  shelter,  life  had  nothing  but  brightness  to 
offer  him.  He  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  as  he  reached  the  door, 
and  turned  his  gloomy  thoughts  away  from  the  mill  and  its 
late  occupant,  as  he  shook  the  loose  snow  from  his  dripping 
overcoat.  In  the  drawing-room  of  the  handsome  villa,  the 
widow  of  the  late  President  Urach  had  gathered  around  her 
this  same  evening  a  large  party  of  friends. 

He  paused  a  moment  on  the  veranda,  and  peered  through 
the  brilliantly  illumined  windows  at  the  rooms  inside.  Mag- 
nificent mirrors,  costly  velvet  hangings,  dazzling  candelabras, 
rich  furniture,  and  priceless  pictures  on  the  walls  met  his  gaze 
on  every  side,  and  made  the  darkness  of  the  night  outside  more 
intense  in  contrast  to  the  warmth  and  comfort  within.  A 
gust  of  wind  came  sweeping  up  the  avenue  and  dashed  against 
the  window,  but,  strong  as  it  was,  it  could  not  shake  the  firm, 
secure  sashes  of  the  windows,  or  even  cause  the  light  gossamer 
lace  of  the  curtains  to  tremble  as  they  hung. 

With  a  kind  of  half -wondering  astonishment  the  merchant 
matched  the  company  assembled  in  these  rooms.  He  was  not 
thinking  of  the  dark  or  golden  hair  of  the  women,  of  maiden's 
soft  eyes  and  blushing  cheek,  or  of  the  head-dresses  of  the 


DT  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  1? 

dowagers  and  chaperones,  but  of  the  names  many  of  those 
present  had  borne  for  generations.  Officers  of  high  rank, 
members  of  the  court,  ministers,  and  heads  of  noble  families 
were  sitting  at  the  whist-tables  or  lounging  in  comfortable 
easy-chairs  by  the  warmth  of  the  stove.  Even  the  noble  old 
Dr.  von  Bar,  the  president  of  the  medical  council,  was  there, 
playing  a  rubber  of  whist  with  the  wife  of  a  duke,  the  head  of 
one  of  the  oldest  ducal  houses  of  the  land.  And  all  these  peo- 
ple were  in  his  house,  in  the  house  of  the  honorable  merchant 
prince,  Counselor  Romer;  the  sparkling  wine  in  the  glasses 
came  from  his  cellar;  the  luscious  red  strawberries,  handed 
round  by  the  liveried  servants  on  crystal  dishes,  had  been 
bought  with  his  money.  And  the  grand  old  lady  who  did  the 
honors" of  his  house  with  a  queenly  grace  and  dignity  becoming 
her  silver  hair,  was  the  grandmother  of  his  late  wife,  for  Herr 
Homer  the  merchant  prince  was  a  widower. 

He  turned  to  the  west  side  of  the  house,  where  only  two 
windows  reflected  the  light  from  w&hin  on  the  outer  darkness, 
from  one  of  which  the  hanging  red  curtains  cast  a  rosy  glow 
over  the  marble  nymph  at  the  fountain  near  by.  The  mer- 
chant entered  the  hall,  and  giving  his  coat  and  hat  to  one  of 
the  footmen  loitering  about,  he  opened  the  door  of  the  room 
with  the  red  curtains.  The  entire  apartment  was  furnished 
with  the  same  shade  of  color  as  the  curtains;  walls,  chairs, 
sofas,  table-cloth,  carpet,  were  all  of  a  red  hue.  Beneath  the 
lamp,  in  the  center  of  the  room,  stood  a  rare  Japanese  table 
of  ebony  and  gold  inlaid  with  arabesque  designs — a  writing- 
table  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  term.  On  it  were  scattered 
books,  paper,  writing  materials,  and  a  thick  manuscript,  on 
the  right  side  of  which,  on  a  small  silver  salver,  stood  an  ele- 
gant spiral  glass  half  filled  with  a  dark  rich  wine.  No  flowers 
ornamented  the  room,  nor  did  any  bird-cage  hang  near  the 
window.  Life-sized  busts  in  black  marble  stood  on  pedestals 
of  the  same  material  in  the  four  corners,  each  one  more  severe 
and  hard  in  mien  than  the  other,  and  one  entire  side  of  the 
apartment  was  occupied  by  a  book-case,  harmonizing  in  color 
and  material  with  the  Japanese  table,  on  the  shelves  of  which 
beautifully  bound  books  and  folios  of  costly  leather  gave  ample 
proof  of  the  literary  tastes  of  the  owner  of  this  room. 

When  the  merchant  opened  the  door,  a  lady  who  was  pacing 
the  floor  with  impatient  but  monotonous  regularity  stood  still. 
At  a  first  glance  fancy  suggested  that  she  must  have  just  come 
in  from  under  the  falling  snow,  she  looked  so  white  and  pale 
in  the  midst  of  that  rosy  surrounding.  The  graceful  folds  of 
her  long  cashmere  dress  lightly  fastened  round  her  slender 


18  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

waist,  might  be  the  result  of  a  desire  for  ease  and  comfort,  or 
the  studied  arrangement  of  the  finished  mistress  of  the  art  of 
dressing;  whichever  it  was,  the  form  it  enveloped  had  a  noble 
bearing  and  a  dove-like  charm  that  would  have  suited  Iphi- 
genia.  Although  not  in  the  bloom  of  early  youth,  the  lady 
was  very  beautiful,  with  a  soft,  clear  profile,  mobile  features, 
and  supple,  rounded  figure.  Her  very  fair  hair  was  cut  short 
and  curled  in  close  waves  round  her  ears  and  throat.  She  was 
Flora  Mangold,  and  twin-sister  to  the  merchant's  late  wife. 
On  the  appearance  of  her  brother-in-law  she  started,  folded  her 
arms  on  her  bosom,  and  looked  anxiously  in  his  face. 

"  Why  are  you  not  in  there,  Flora?"  he  asked,  pointing  in 
che  direction  of  the  drawing-room  with  his  thumb. 

"  How  could  you  expect  me  to  be  there?  I  am  not  likely  to 
join  grandmamma's  tea-table,  and  knit  stockings  and  bands 
for  old  women  and  children,"  she  answered,  angrily. 

"  But  the  gentlemen,  Flora — " 

"  Why,  they  love  scandal  and  tea  as  well  as  women,  in  spite 
of  their  orders  and  epaulets. " 

Herr  Romer  smiled. 

"  You  have  the  blues,  my  dear  girl,"  he  said,  as  he  flung 
his  tall  form  on  one  of  the  easy-chairs. 

But  she  shook  her  head  and  threw  it  back  with  a  proud  gest- 
ure, clasping  her  hands  tightly  on  her  bosom  as,  after  a  mo- 
mentary hesitation,  she  said,  breathlessly: 

"  Moriz,  tell  me  the  truth,  did  the  miller  die  under  Doctor 
Bruck's  operating-knife?" 

He  started. 

"  What  an  idea!  You  women  are  always  for  making  things 
blacker — " 

"  Make  an  exception  of  me  here/*  she  interrupted,  with 
again  that  proud  movement  of  her  head. 

"  Certainly,  of  course;  but  with  all  respect  due  to  your 
drains  and  general  good  sense,  are  you  more  lenient  than  the 
others?"  he  asked,  as  he  rose  and  began  pacing  the  room. 
This  unexpected  position  of  affairs  was  not  to  his  liking.  "  Die 
under  Bruck's  operating-knife!"  he  repeated  in  a  choked 
voice.  "  I  tell  you  that  the  operation  took  place  about  two 
o'clock,  and  the  man  died  a  couple  of  hours  after.  Besides,  I 
can't  understand  how  yon  can  bring  yourself  to  express  such  a 
hard  thought,  Flora,  let  alone  saying  it  in  that  hard,  unsym- 
pathizing  manner. " 

"I  am  just  the  one  to  say  it,"  she  replied,  stamping  her 
foot  on  the  soft  thick  carpet.  "  I  who  can't  bear  secretive- 
of  any  kind,  you  know  that.  I  am  too  proud,  and  too 


IN  THE  COTJNSELOK'S  HOUSE.  19 

impatient  and  outspoken  to  know  of  another's  faults  and  con- 
ceal them,  be  that  other  who  he  may!  But  don't  imagine  I 
don't  suffer,  for  I  do.  It's  as  if  a  knife  had  been  driven 
through  my  heart.  You  say  I  am  unsympathiziag.  In  my 
opinion,  to  sympathize  with  ignorance  and  want  of  knowledge 
in  a  man's  profession  is  simply  absurd  and  impossible.  And 
you  know  quite  as  well  as  I  do,  Moriz,  that  Doctor  Bruck'a 
reputation  as  a  clever  physician  has  considerably  suffered 
through  his  failing  to  cure  Countess  Wallendorf. " 

"  But  the  good  woman  would  not  give  up  her  fondness  for 
savory  pasties  and  champagne." 

"  That's  what  the  doctor  says.  Her  relatives  are  pleased  to 
differ  with  him."  Then  pressing  her  hands  to  her  brow  as  if 
her  head"  ached,  she  added:  "  Do  you  know,  Moriz,  that  when 
the  sad  news  reached  us  here  that  the  miller  was  dead,  I  rushed 
out  into  the  open  air  to  breathe,  I  felt  so  overcome?  All  the 
neighborhood  knew  the  old  man,  and  every  one  was  interested 
in  the  success  of  the  operation.  And  if,  as  you  say,  he  did 
not  sink  at  the  moment  under  Doctor  Bruck's  operating-knife, 
people  will  justly  remark  that  with  his  strong  constitution  he 
might  have  lived  on  much  longer  if  it  had  not  been  done.  You 
can't  deny  that  you  had  the  same  conviction.  Yon  should  see 
how  white  you  are  from  inward  emotion." 

The  door  opened,  and  the  mistress  of  the  house  appeared  on 
the  threshold.  In  spite  of  her  seventy  years  she  was  a  won- 
derfully young-looking  grandmamma  still.  Nothing  about 
her  betokened  her  age,  she  did  not  even  wear  the  full,  loose 
cape  that  ladies  of  advanced  age  generally  adopt,  but  her 
shoulders  were  covered  with  a  lace  fichu  folded  across  her 
bosom,  and  fastened  at  the  waist,  and  over  a  silver-gray  silk 
dress,  which  was  beautifully  made,  a  black  Spanish  lace  polo- 
naise fell  in  rich  folds  to  match  the  fichu.  Her  hair,  which 
was  so  little  gray  that  its  golden  color  was  still  visible,  was 
dressed  in  puffs  above  her  forehead,  and  her  head  was  orna 
mented  with  a  soft  tulle  veil,  the  ends  of  which  were  fastened 
under  her  chin  to  hide  her  throat  and  ears. 

She  was  not  alone.  With  her  came  a  rather  undersized  and 
excessively  thin  girl.  She  was  not  exactly  out  of  proportion, 
but  the  painful  absence  of  roundness  in  her  form  suggested 
there  was  something  amiss  in  her  figure,  and  that  she  was  far 
younger  than  her  fully  developed  face  of  four-and-twenty  be- 
tokened. The  three  women  bore  a  strong  family  likeness  to 
each  other,  so  marked  in  each  feature  that  a  mere  casual  ob- 
server would  have  guessed  the  relationship  at.  a  first  glance — 
only  the  youngest  had  a  broader  and  more  determined  chin, 


20  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

and  her  profile  was  sharper  and  more  defined.  Her  com- 
plexion, moreover,  was  unhealthy,  and  her  lips  had  scarcely  a 
tinge  of  color.  Her  fair  hair  was  ornamented  with  bright-col- 
ored velvet,  and  her  evening-dress  was  elegant  and  costly;  but 
at  her  side,  where  ladies  usually  carry  some  dainty  device  for 
holding  their  handkerchief,  this  young  maiden  had  placed  a 
small  willow  basket,  softly  lined  with  blue  satin,  in  which  sat 
a  little  canary-bird. 

"  Henriette,  I  won't  have  it,"  cried  Flora,  angrily,  as  the 
songster  left  its  nest  and  flew  straight  as  an  arrow  over  her 
head.  "  I  will  not  allow  it,  indeed — you  ought  to  leave  your 
menagerie  outside. " 

"  But,  Flora,  my  pet  Hans  has  neither  elephant's  feet  nor 
horns  growing  on  his  head,  he  won't  hurt  you,"  replied  the 
little  lady  patiently.  "  Come  here,  Hans,  come,"  she  added 
coaxingly  to  the  bird,  which  had  perched  on  an  ornament  on 
the  ceiling,  and  in  answer  to  her  call  flew  back  and  settled  on 
her  outstretched  forefinger. 

Flora  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  grandmamma,"  she  said,  sharp- 
ly. "  How  can  you  tolerate  such  foolish  childishness  in  Hen- 
riette. The  next  thing  she  will  do  will  be  to  bring  all  the 
doves  and  rooks  into  the  drawing-room." 

"  Ah,  yes — and  why  not,  Flora?"  the  girl  answered,  laugh- 
ingly, showing  her  small  white  teeth.  "  Our  friends  have  to 
tolerate  you  very  often  with  a  pen  behind  your  ear  and  no  end 
of  learned — " 

"  Henriette!"  exclaimed  the  old  lady,  in  a  reproving  tone. 

Every  movement  of  hers  was  queenly  in  grace  and  dignity, 
and  as  she  laid  her  hand  on  the  merchant's  arm  and  said: 
"  We  have  just  heard  that  at  last  you  have  returned  home, 
Moriz,"  there  was  a  very  winsome  charm  about  her  manner 
that  was  not  to  be  easily  resisted.  "  Shall  we  have  to  wait  for 
your  presence  among  us  much  longer?"  she  asked  in  her  still 
musical,  soft  voice. 

Ten  minutes  ago  the  merchant  had  decided  on  getting  into 
his  dress-coat  as  quickly  as  possible  and  joining  his  guests; 
but  now  he  said,  hesitatingly,  and  in  an  under-tone: 

"  Dearest  grandmamma,  you  must  kindly  excuse  me  for  to- 
night. The  affair  at  the  mill— 

"  Yes,  that  is  sad  enough,  very  sad.  But  I  don't  see  why 
we  need  grieve  over  it.  I  really  can  not  understand  how  it  is 
possible  for  me  to  excuse  your  non-appearance  among  our 
guests. " 

"  Surely  our  friends  can  not  be  so  obtuge  as  not  to  bo  able 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  21 

to  understand  that  Kathe's  grandfather  is  dead,"  remarked 
Henriette  over  her  shoulder,  as  she  carelessly  turned  the  pages 
of  a  book  in  her  hand. 

"  I  wish,  Henriette,  that  you  would  keep  your  impertinent 
observations  to  yourself/' replied  her  grandmamma.  "You 
really  ought  not  to  have  such  very  bright  ribbons  in  your  hair. 
Kathe  is  your  step-sister,  but  neither  Moriz  nor  I  consider  the 
connection  with  the  miller  close  enough  to  be  acknowledged 
publicly,  however  much  we  may  grieve  over  his  death.  And 
besides,"  she  added,  firmly,  "  the  less  said  about  this  affair  the 
better,  for  Doctor  Brack's  sake. " 

"  Good  heavens,  how  unjust  you  all  are  to  the  doctor!"  ex- 
claimed the  counselor,  hotly.  "  He  is  not  to  blame  in  this 
matter  at  all;  he  did  all  in  his  power;  brought  all  his  surgical 
skill—" 

"  On  that  point,  dear  Moriz,  you  should  hear  the  opinion  of 
my  old  friend,  Doctor  von  Bar,"  interrupted  the  old  lady,  tap- 
ping him  lightly  on  the  shoulder  and  nodding  significantly 
toward  Flora  who  had  walked  over  to  the  writing-table. 

"  Oh,  you  need  not  mind  me,  grandmamma!  Do  you  think 
I  am  so  blind  and  deaf  as  not  to  see  and  hear  which  side  Bar 
takes?"  cried  the  beautiful  girl,  bitterly,  while  her  lips  trem- 
bled nervously.  "  Besides,  Doctor  Brack  has  condemned  him- 
self, inasmuch  as  he  has  not  ventured  to  come  into  my  pres- 
ence this  evening." 

Henriette  had  been  standing  up  to  this  moment  with  her 
back  toward  the  others.  Now  she  turned  suddenly  round  and 
faced  them,  her  usually  pale  cheeks  glowing  scarlet  for  one 
moment,  but  whiter  than  ever  the  next,  as  she  fixed  her  large 
flaming  eyes  on  her  sister's  with  a  strangely  mixed  expression 
of  shy  terror  and  hate  burning  in  them. 

"  Well!  he  will  be  able  to  refute  your  suspicions,  for  he  will 
be  here  presently,  Flora,"  observed  the  counselor,  greatly  re- 
lieved. "  He  will  explain  to  you  how  terribly  busy  he  has 
been  all  day.  You  know  that  lie  has  several  patients  danger- 
ous ill  in  town,  besides  that  poor  little  girl  Leuery,  who  is 
dying  now." 

The  young  lady  uttered  a  mocking,  bitter  laugh. 

"  Dying,  you  say?  Really,  Moriz?  Doctor  von  Bar  told 
me  only  to-day  that  he  saw  the  child  yesterday,  and  thought 
the  accident  a  very  slight  one;  he  feared,  however,  that  Bruck's 
course  of  treatment  was  hardly  wise;  and  you  know  Doctor 
von  Bar  is  an  authority. " 

"An  authority  full  of  bitter  jealousy,"  said  Henriette, 
slowly,  with  her  vibrating  voice.  Then  going  suddenly  close 


22  IN    THE    COUNSELORS    HOUSE. 

to  her  brother-in-law,  and  laying  her  thin  hand  on  his 
she  added:  "  Give  up  trying  to  convince  Flora.     You  see  ho\< 
determined  she  is  to  prove  her  lover  in  fault." 

"I?  You  unkind  girl!  I  would  give  half  my  fortune  if  I 
could  feel  now  the  proud  confidence  in  Doctor  Brack's  skill  I 
did  when  first  we  were  engaged/'  cried  Flora,  passionately. 
"  But  since  Countess  Wallendorf  's  death,  I  have  borne  in 
silence  the  terrible  agony  of  doubt  and  suspicion — now  I  need 
doubt  no  longer — I  am  convinced.  I  am  not  one  of  those 
women  who  love  blindly  and  never  ask  themselves  if  the  be- 
loved one  is  worth  sacrificing  one's  self  for.  I  am  ambitious, 
very  ambitious,  that  you  all  know,  and  without  this  quality  I 
should  just  be  like  the  rest  of  my  sex.  God  forbid!  How  any 
clever,  aspiring  woman  can  be  content  to  go  through  life  by 
the  side  of  an  obscure  and  unknown  husband  is  a  mystery  to 
me,  I  can  not  understand  it;  if  I  had  it  to  bear  I  should  blush 
each  time  I  looked  my  fellow-beings  in  the  face. "  f 

"Oh,  no;  you  think  you  would  be  so  bashful?  Ah!  ha! 
It  would  require  more  courage  than  standing  before  an  assem- 
bly of  forward  students,  and  reading  a  paper  on  metaphysics 
or  some  such  subject,"  remarked  Henriette  in  a  mocking  tone. 

Flora  gave  her  sister  a  scornful  glance  as  she  replied : 

"  Such  a  little  viper  as  you  one  must  not  mind.  What  do 
you  know  of  the  ideal?"  she  asked,  shrugging  her  shoulders. 
"  But  you  are  right  in  thinking  that  I  would  rather  find  my 
place  at  the  lecturing  desk  of  a  college  than  by  the  side  of  a 
man  who  made  a  failure  of  his  profession — such  a  mortifica- 
tion I  could  not  endure. " 

"  That  is  your  own  affair  entirely,  child,*'  said  her  grand- 
mother, wearily,  as  the  merchant  moved  uneasily  up  and  down 
the  room.  "  You  must  please  to  remember  that  no  one  either 
urged  or  obliged  you  to  engage  yourself  to  this  man. " 

'  I  know  that,  grandmamma.  I  know,  too,  that  you  would 
far  rather  have  seen  me  married  to  the  bankrupt  lord  cham- 
berlain Von  Stellon;  and  I  think  you  also  know  that  I  will 
never  allow  myself  to  be  influenced  by  any  human  being  re- 
garding what  I  think  right  for  me  to  do." 

"  And  no  one  will  try,  my  dear/'  answered  her  grand- 
mother with  marked  coldness.  "  There  is  only  one  thing  I 
wish  you  to  remember,  and  that  is  that  I  shall  not  spare  you 
if  you  decide  on  making  this  affair  public.  You  know  me 
well,  and  that  I  will  bear  anything  rather  than  be  exposed  to 
a  family  scandal  or  a  slur  on  our  name.  I  live  among  you  all, 
and  I  am  at  the  head  of  this  house,  and  for  this  very  reason  1 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  23 

mil  not  have  people  whispering  and  talking  about  us,  so  I  hope 
and  trust,  my  dear,  you  will  not  fail  in  your  respect  to  me." 

The  merchant  suddenly  ceased  his  restless  march  up  and 
down  the  room  and  stood  still  by  the  window,  drawing  aside 
the  curtain  to  look  out  into  the  night.  The  wind  had  risen 
considerably,  and  was  swaying  the  young  trees  around  the  lawn 
till  they  were  nearly  snapped  asunder,  and  the  snow-flakes 
rushing  through  the  air,  dyed  blood-color  from  the  red  glim- 
mer of  the  lamp  shining  on  them,  harmonized  well  with  the 
racking  thoughts  tearing  through  his  aching  head.  At  first  he 
had  been  strongly  tempted  to  tell  Flora  the  whole  truth  about 
the  affair,  but  now  he  knew  that  he  dared  not  utter  a  syllable, 
simply  because  the  noble  old  lady  would  leave  his  house  direct- 
ly his  confession  was  made,  rather  than  be  subjected  to  the 
whispering  and  comments  of  the  neighborhood  which  would 
inevitably  follow;  for  he  was  obliged  to  acknowledge  to  him- 
self that  the  beautiful  ambitious  girl  would  tell  the  whole  story 
rather  than  allow  it  to  be  imagined  sJie  could  care  for  a  man 
whose  professional  skill  was  open  to  doubt. 

Meanwhile  Henriette  drew  forward,  her  slight,  misshapen 
figure  as  erect  as  possible,  her  eyes  flashing  with  scorn  and  pas- 
sion as  the  said,  looking  straight  at  her  grandmother: 

"  So  it's  only  to  avoid  people's  tongues  that  you  are  anxious 
my  sister  should  come  blameless  out  of  this  affair?  It  will  be 
well  for  her  if  she  does.  You  will  forgive  her  if  she  masks 
her  faithlessness  with  a  worldly  motive;  you  have  no  need  to 
be  so  afraid  of  discovery,  grandmamma.  One  has  only  to  live 
in  the  world  as  we  do  to  know  that  society  has  so  many  faults; 
it  is  like  rare  and  curious  old  china,  the  more  it  is  cracked  and 
cemented  the  more  valuable  it  becomes." 

"  You  had  better  go  to  your  room  for  the  rest  of  the  even- 
ing, Henriette,"  replied  her  grandmother,  in  a  grave,  warning 
voice.  "  I  will  not  allow  you  to  return  to  the  drawing-room 
While  you  are  in  this  bitter  and  impertinent  temper." 

"  Very  well,  grandmamma!  Come,  Hans,  we  will  go  with 
pleasure,"  she  answered,  laughing  and  rubbing  her  cheek 
against  the  bird's  downy  plumage;  "  you  too  dislike  the  old 
ladies  belonging  to  the  court,  and  the  great  medical  authority 
Doctor  von  Bar,  I  know  you  hate  him  and  peck  his  fingers 
whenever  he  offers  you  sugar,  you  dear,  brave  little  darling! 
Good-night,  grandmamma;  good-night,  Moriz!"  adding,  as 
she  suddenly  paused  ere  reaching  the  door:  "  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  Flora  will  bethink  her  to  follow  the  path  that  dear  papa, 
iiad  he  been  alive,  would  have  sternly  insisted  on.  With  alj 
her  present  boast  of  doing  as  she  likes,  she  would  not  haw 


84  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

dared  to  utter  such  a  sentiment  in  his  life-time.  He  would 
never  have  encouraged  her  to  break  her  word  to  an  honorable 
man." 

Sadly  shaking  her  head  she  left  the  room,  but  had  hardly 
passed  the  threshold  when  the  hot  tears,  which  she  had  scarce- 
ly been  able  to  keep  back  while  she  spoke,  rolled  quickly  down 
her  cheeks. 

"What  a  blessing  she  has  gone!"  said  Flora.  "It  really 
requires  all  one's  forbearance  not  to  lose  patience  with  her." 

"  I  never  forget  that  she  is  an  invalid,"  remarked  the  elder 
Jady,  dryly. 

"And  to  a  certain  extent  she  is  right  hi  what  she  says, 
Flora,"  the  merchant  ventured  to  observe. 

"  You  may  think  as  you  please,  Moriz,"  replied  the  young 
lady,  coldly.  "  All  I  beg  of  you  is  not  to  meddle  with  me, 
and  thus  make  matters  harder  for  me  to  bear.  As  I  said  be- 
fore, I  don't  wish  for  any  advice;  I  mean  to  act  as  I  think 
best  in  this  affair.  You  and  grandmamma  may  be  quite  at 
ease  about  me;  I  punish  myself  in  being  hard — but  I  have  one 
silent  ally,  and  that  is — time. " 

She  lifted  the  spiral  glass  off  the  table  and  raised  it  to  her 
lips,  drinking  part  of  the  rich  wine  it  contained,  while  her 
grandmother  without  a  word  more  slowly  left  the  room. 

"  Apropos,  Moriz,"  said  the  elder  lady,  appearing  in  the 
room  again,  "  what  becomes  of  Kathe?" 

"  We  must  wait  for  the  reading  of  the  will,  to  know  exact- 
ly, "  replied  her  son-in-law,  in  a  more  cheerful  tone  than  he 
had  yet  spoken.  "  I  have  no  idea  how  the  miller  has  arranged 
matters.  Kathe  is  his  sole  heiress  by  law,  but  if  he  has  made 
her  so  in  his  will  remains  to  be  seen.  He  always  resented  her 
being  alive  at  all,  because  her  mother  died  at  her  birth.  In 
any  case,  she  will  have  to  come  here  for  a  little  while." 

"  There  you  are  mistaken,  the  girl  won't  come;  she  is  as 
*ond  of  her  old  governess  now  as  she  was  in  papa's  time,"  said 
Flora.  "  You  should  only  read  her  letters." 

"  Well,  perhaps  it  is  better  that  she  remain  where  she  is,'* 
observed  the  elder  lady  pleasantly.  "  To  be  honest,  I  am  not 
so  anxious  to  have  her  under  my  care.  I  never  could  take  to 
her,  not  because  of  your  father's  second  wife,  Flora — that  I 
have  never  allowed — but  she  was  always  wandering  about  the 
mill,  and  getting  her  hair  and  clothes  covered  with  flour,  and 
was  ever  a  willful  little  creature. " 

Yes,  a  perverse  little  rebel  belonging  to  the  people,  and 

ipa's  darling, "  said  Flora,  with  a  sarcastic  smile. 
Tery  likely,  my  de<w,  because  she  was  the  youngest," 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  25 

remarked  her  grandmother,  who  never  would  allow  that  any 
one  belonging  to  her  family  was  neglected.  "  He  petted  you 
all  in  turn.  Do  you  mean  to  come,  Moriz?" 

"  Yes,'*  he  said,  hastily,  as  he  left  the  room  with  the  elderly 
lady. 

As  soon  as  she  was  alone,  Flora  rang  the  bell,  and  when  the 
lady's-inaid  appeared  in  answer  to  the  summons,  said:  "  I 
think  I  will  go  at  once  to  my  bedroom  and  work  there!  Just 
carry  this  inkstand  and  paper  with  you,  and  lay  them  on  the 
table;  I  will  see  no  one  else  this  evening." 

The  red  reflection  on  the  snow  vanished,  but  the  white  lights 
from  the  drawing-room  streamed  out  into  the  avenue  till  long 
after  midnight.  When  the  merchant  appeared  among  his 
guests  he  was  greeted  with  such  warmth  and  delight  by  every 
one  present,  and  so  much  regret  was  expressed  at  his  unavoid- 
able absence  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening,  that  his  op- 
pressed heart  grew  light,  and  as  he  looked  first  at  one  and  then 
at  the  other,  and  met  eyes  beaming  with  confidence  and  re- 
gard, he  began  to  feel  at  ease  with  his  conscience  and  to  let  the 
scruples  of  the  last  few  hours  fade  into  oblivion.  He  sat  at 
the  whist-table  and  played  with  his  usual  skill,  but  he  did  not 
yet  venture  to  comfort  himself  with  the  assurance  that  his 
silence  had  done  no  harm.  By  holding  his  tongue  he  had 
separated  two  people  who  had  promised  to  become  one  over 
the  betrothal-ring.  But  bah!  Flora  was  such  an  odd  girl. 
Bruck  would  be  sure  to  gain  distinction  yet,  and  then  perhaps 
Flora  would  change  her  mind  again.  He  lifted  a  glass  of  cost- 
ly wine  to  his  lips,  and  therewith  his  last  scruple  vanished. 

CHAPTER  III. 

As  was  expected,  the  miller  had  left  all  his  property  and 
fortune  to  his  orphan  grandchild,  Kathe  Mangold,  appointing 
Counselor  Homer,  who  had  been  for  some  years  the  girl's 
guardian,  as  his  sole  executor.  The  counselor  could  hardly 
suppress  a  start  of  surprise  when  the  will  was  read,  at  the  ex- 
treme confidence  the  old  man  placed  in  him,  by  giving  him 
almost  unlimited  power  over  his  ward's  fortune.  He  could 
scarcely  believe  it  possible,  when  he  remembered  that,  an  hour 
after  signing  this  testament,  the  miller  had  accused  him  of 
trying  to  rob  his  coffers,  and  by  his  own  rash  suspicion  turned 
the  doubt  which  had  necessitated  the  making  a  will  into  a  cer- 
tainty. The  will  declared  that,  in  the  event  of  the  operation 
OTI  his  throat  proving  fatal,  he  wished  all  the  landed  property 
£e  possessed  to  be  sold,  with  the  exception  of  the  flour-i 


JB6  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  SOUSE. 

house  attached.  The  reason  for  this  exception  was  in  the  fact  that 
it  was  the  mill  which  had  made  his  fortune,  and  even  if  his  grand' 
child  was  as  "  proud  and  haughty  as  her  step-sister,"  she  need 
not  be  ashamed  of  owning  such  a  place  when  the  time  arrived 
for  her  to  marry.  The  estate  was  to  be  divided  into  various 
portions,  and  sold  to  different  buyers.  Forest,  fields,  and  even 
the  meadow-land  and  orchard  were  each  to  be  purchased  by 
a  different  person.  As  regarded  the  villa  and  park,  the  mer- 
chant was  to  have  the  refusal  of  that  portion  of  the  property — 
if  he  felt  so  inclined,  reserving  it  as  his  own  possession,  with 
the  additional  sum  of  five  thousand  thalers,  free  of  tax.  This 
Hve  thousand  thalers  was  bequeathed  to  the  merchant,  not  so 
much  as  compensation  for  the  trouble  he  might  have  with  the 
management  of  the  vast  property,  but  as  a  mark  of  the  testa- 
tor's gratitude  for  his  kindly  friendliness,  and  for  being  more 
like  a  relative  to  the  lonely  old  man  than  the  "  other  inmates 
of  the  villa."  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  estate  were  to 
be  invested  out  in  such  manner  as  Kathe's  guardian  thought 
best,  since  the  testator  would  lay  no  restrictions  on  a  man 
whose  incorruptible  honor  he  had  never  known  to  be  at  fault. 

Kathe  Mangold  had  not  seen  her  home  for  six  years.  "When 
her  father  was  dying  he  extracted  a  promise  from  her  future 
guardian,  that  she  should  go  and  live  with  the  governess  who 
had  brought  her  up,  and  taken  the  place  of  the  mother  the 
child  had  lost  at  her  birth.  This  lady  was  about  to  marry  and 
settle  in  Dresden,  and  Kathe's  papa,  the  banker  Mangold, 
knew  that  his  little  pet  daughter  would  be  much  happier  if  he 
left  her  under  the  care  of  her  old  governess,  than  if  she  re- 
mained at  home  with  her  grown-up  step-sisters.  So  little 
Kathe  went  to  live  in  Dresden,  and  as  the  years  passed  on  she 
was  never  invited  to  pay  a  visit  to  her  old  grandfather  at  the 
mill,  who  could  never  forget  that  the  birth  of  this  child  caused 
She  death  of  his  only  daughter,  the  only  human  thing  he  had 
aver  loved.  Now  the  old  man  was  dead,  the  time  had  arrived 
for  Kathe  to  return  to  her  home.  In  answer  to  her  guardian's 
letter  announcing  the  contents  of  the  will,  the  girl's  only  re- 
quest had  been  that  the  large  corner  room  in  the  Mill-house 
with  the  small  cabinet  adjoining  might  be  left  exactly  as  it 
had  been  in  her  grandfather's  life-time,  which  request  had  of 
course  been  attented  to. 

It  was  the  middle  of  March,  and  the  snow  was  not  all 
melted  away,  when  a  young  lady  left  the  narrow  streets  of 
the  town,  and  turned  up  the  broad  road  leading  to  the  castle 
mill.  The  melting  snow  had  made  the  roads  very  dirty,  the 
wheels  of  the  carts  heavily  laden  with  flour-bags  had  left  deep 


nr  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  27 

all  along  the  route,  but  the  pretty  feet  shod  in  veil-made 
6oots  did  not  seem  to  take  much  heed  about  the  dirty  state  of 
the  footpaths.  Holding  up  her  black  silk  dress  as  far  as  her 
slight  well-rounded  ankle,  so  as  to  avoid  sprinkling  it  with 
mud,  the  girl  trotted  briskly  along,  the  color  deepening  in  hei 
cheeks  from  the  unwonted  quickness  of  her  movements.  A 
loose  black  velvet  jacket  lined  with  fur  could  not  hide  the 
graceful  outline  and  full  development  of  her  bust  and  figure, 
and  a  small  hat  of  marten  fur  slightly  drawn  off  the  forehead, 
showed  off  to  perfection  the  glossy  shimmer  of  her  light  brown 
hair.  The  face  was  by  no  means  classical  in  beauty,  the  nose 
was  too  short,  the  mouth  too  large,  the  dimpled  chin  a  thought 
too  firmly  set,  the  eyebrows  not  sufficiently  arched  to  form  a 
perfectly  beautiful  face;  but  the  delicate  oval  of  the  cheeks, 
the  rich  full  lips,  the  white  lids  of  the  sparkling  eyes  fringed 
with  dark  lashes,  the  fresh  glow  of  the  complexion,  the  sweet 
innocence  of  her  expression,  fully  atoned  for  any  want  in 
regular  outline  of  feature,  and  made  Kathe  Mangold's  bright 
young  face  a  very  attractive  object  to  gaze  upon. 

The  young  lady  entered  the  court-yard  of  the  castle  mill, 
and  looked  around  her. 

The  sun  was  shining  brightly  on  the  grand  old  walls  of  the 
Mill-house,  making  the  massive  stones  of  which  they  were 
built  appear  grayer  and  older  than  they  were  in  reality.  The 
last  portion  of  snow  had  slipped  from  the  roof  during  the 
night,  leaving  the  gray  slates  clean  and  dazzling  in  the  noon- 
day sun;  the  resin  oozing  from  the  buds  was  glittering  like 
diamonds  on  the  moving  branches  of  the  chestnut-trees,  and  a 
number  of  pigeons  were  cooing  somewhere  near.  Just  in  front 
of  her,  on  the  doorstep  of  the  workmen's  eating-room,  sat  a 
man  covered  with  white  flour,  devouring  huge  mouthfuls  of 
bread  and  cheese. 

At  the  stranger's  approach  the  dogs  in  the  court-yard  set  up 
a  loud  barking,  but  not  a  whit  frightened,  the  young  lady 
called  out  in  a  coaxing  tone: 

"  Be  quiet,  Mohr!  Watcher!"  At  the  sound  of  her  voice 
the  animals  only  barked  the  louder,  and  tried  hard  to  break 
away  from  their  chains. 

"  What  do  you  want?"  asked  the  man,  slowly,  and  with 
difficulty  rising  from  the  doorstep. 

The  girl  smiled  gayly  as  she  replied: 

"  I  want  nothing  but  to  say  how  do  you  do,  Franz.  Where's 
your  wife?" 

"  Surely  it  can't  be  our  young  lady?"  said  the  man,  flinging 
down  his  knife  and  bread,  as  a  broad  smile  lighted  up  his  face, 


28  iff  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

and  he  gazed  into  the  new-comer's  countenance  with  ah  expres- 
sion of  astonishment  blended  with  unfeigned  delight  that  made 
the  laughing  girl  blush  with  pleasure. 

In  the  years  gone  by,  when  Kathe  was  a  little  girl,  she  had 
been  called  by  the  hands  at  the  mill  the  "  mill  mouse,"  from 
her  love  of  creeping  about  the  granaries  and  work-rooms  when- 
ever the  foreman  of  the  works  would  allow  her  to  follow  him 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

"  Very  curious,"  remarked  the  man  half  to  himself,  who 
was  no  taller  than  the  girl  before  him.  "  It's  very  curious; 
the  dimples  in  the  cheeks  and  the  eyes  are  the  same,  but  how 
tall  she  is!  And  now  she's  mistress  here,"  he  added,  as  he 
glanced  somewhat  shyly  at  the  slight  girlish  figure  before  him. 
'  She  takes  after  her  grandmother.  Be  quiet  there,  you 
beasts!"  he  thundered,  holding  up  his  fist  at  the  dogs,  who 
were  barking  as  if  they  were  mad  with  joy.  "  The  creatures 
remember  you,  I  do  believe,  my  honored  young  lady — " 

"  Better  than  you  do,  Franz,  the  dear  fellows!"  she  an- 
swered, interrupting  him,  and  going  toward  the  animals  she 
began  caressing  them  with  her  hand.  "But  why  do  you  ad- 
dress me  as  '  honored,'  Franz?  I  have  not  become  noble  in 
Dresden,  I  can  assure  yon." 

"  But  the  ladies  at  the  villa  like  to  be  addressed  in  that 
manner,"  he  remarked  in  answer,  looking  inquiringly  at  her. 

"  Do  they?" 

"  Yes,  and  you,  miss,  are  a  great  deal  higher  than  they  are. 
So  young  and  already  so  rich,  so  enormously  rich!  The  mill 
there,  the  best  in  all  the  land.  Zouuds,  that's  enough  for  any 
one!  And  you  only  a  girl,  hardly  eighteen  yet,  and — master 
of  such  a  mill!  It's  wonderful,  wonderful!" 

The  maiden  laughed  aloud. 

"  Well,  it  belongs  to  me  now,  and  won't  I  worry  you  to 
death,  you  dear  old  Franz!  Where  is  Susaune?" 

"  She  is  in  her  room;  she's  bad  again,  poor  old  body.  The 
housekeeping  becomes  hard  for  her  now.  Doctor  Bruck  is 
with  her. " 

The  young  lady  gave  him  her  hand  and  turned  away  and 
entered  the  house.  The  heavy  oak  door  closed  with  a  bang 
behind  her,  making  the  walls  shake  with  the  clash  and  noise, 
and  the  dust  fly  up  in  showers  about  her.  As  she  passed  on 
through  the  corn-room  into  the  house,  the  perfume  of  the 
grain  arrested  her  attention,  and  caused  her  to  pause,  bringing 
back  to  her  memory  the  time  she  had  lived  in  this  house  as  a 
\ittle  girl.  For  a  moment  the  bright  color  fled  from  her 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  29 

cheeks,  and  her  steps  faltered  as  she  thought  of  the  difference 
between  her  childhood  and  her  present  position. 

Yes,  she  had  always  loved  to  "  creep  about  "  the  mill,  as 
the  old  lady  in  the  villa  had  remarked,  and  with  a  sigh  she 
remembered  how  of  ten  "  dear  papa"  had  shaken  the  flour 
from  her  long  hair  and  frock,  as  he  kissed  her  and  called  her 
his  white  little  mill  mouse.  The  gloomy  old  man,  h3r  grand- 
father, who  so  rarely  spoke  to  her  and  never  loved  her,  out  of 
whose  way  she  would  run  into  Susanne's  bright  kitchen  or  slip 
away  to  Franz  in  his  room,  perhaps,  if  he  could  see  her  now, 
might  forgive  her  for  being  the  cause  of  his  daughter's  death, 
since  she  had  grown  so  like  her  grandmother. 

She.  passed  on  and  came  at  last  to  the  corner  room,  but  tho 
door  was  locked,  so,  not  being  able  to  enter,  she  turned  aside 
down  a  email  corridor  and  had  just  reached  the  top  of  a  back 
flight  of  steps,  when  the  sound  of  a  complaining  voice  arrested 
her  attention. 

"This  must  be  Susanne's  bedroom/'  she  thought,  as  she 
opened  the  door  without  knocking  and  walked  in. 

It  was  a  miserably  poor  uncomfortable  room,  dark  and 
damp  and  with  scarcely  any  furniture  worth  mentioning.  A 
warm  sickly  current  of  air  greeted  her  as  she  entered,  and  the 
first  thing  that  she  saw  in  the  dim  light  was  the  tall  broad- 
shouldered  figure  of  a  man  standing  with  his  back  toward  her. 
He  was  evidently  just  about  to  depart,  for  he  had  his  hat  and 
stick  in  his  hand. 

"  That  must  be  Doctor  Bruck,"  the  girl  thought  to  herself. 
"  Franz  said  he  was  with  Susanne." 

And  then  she  remembered  that  her  guardian  had  written 
some  six  months  ago  and  informed  her  of  the  engagement  of 
her  beautiful  half-sister  Flora  to  a  young  doctor,  who  had 
loved  her  from  the  time  he  was  a  student,  though  of  course  he 
had  not  told  his  love  to  the  rich  proud  girl  till  he  had  some- 
thing of  a  position  to  offer  her.  Since  then  Kathe  had  heard 
no  more  about  the  young  couple,  and  had  forgotten  the  circum- 
stance till  the  mention  of  Dr.  Bruck's  name  by  Franz  and 
finding  him  here  by  Susanne's  bedside  brought  him  back  to  her 
memory.  It  was  either  the  rustling  of  her  silk  dress  or  the 
sweet  breath  of  pure  air  she  brought  in  with  her  which  caused 
the  tall  figure  to  turn  suddenly  round  and  open  his  eyes  in 
astonishment  at  the  figure  standing  in  the  door-way. 

"  Doctor  Bruck?  I  am  Kathe  Mangold,"  the  girl  said, 
hurriedly;  then,  not  waiting  for  him  to  speak,  she  moved 
quickly  to  the  bedside,  and  stretched  out  both  her  hi*nds  to 
the  old  woman  propped  up  on  the  Billows. 


30  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Susanne  stared  at  the  young  lady  in  dull  surprise. 

"  I  have  walked  in  like  the  fresh  air,  haven't  I,  dear  Su- 
sanne? And  at  the  right  time,  too/'  she  said,  cheerfully,  as 
she  smoothed  the  gray  hair  on  the  old  woman's  forehead,  and 
pushed  an  untidy  lock  into  its  place  under  her  night-cap. 

flow  can  you  like  to  be  in  such  a  wretched  room  as  this? 
The  stove  smokes  and  I  can  see  the  mildew  on  the  walls. 
How  can  you  prefer  such  a  garret  to  the  nice  corner  chambei  ? 
Did  no  one  tell  you  you  were  to  have  that  room,  and  sleep  in 
the  cabinet  at  the  side?"  asked  the  girl,  as  a  slight  frown 
dimmed  the  smile  on  her  lips. 

"  Yes,  the  counselor  said  I  was  to  go  there,  but  I  should 
grow  silly  if  I  sat  in  that  room  all  day  alone  like  a  grand  lady, 
or  I  should  become  like  the  poor  dear  master,  now  dead  and 
gone." 

The  young  lady  bit  her  lip  to  keep  from  laughing. 

"  But,  Susanne,  when  grandpapa  was  alive  yeu  could  sit 
there  if  you  liked,  you  know.  Your  spinning-wheel  used  to 
stand  in  the  window — and  I  can  remember  many  a  time  put- 
ting it  out  of  order — and  on  the  drawers  stood  your  work- 
basket.  Doctor,"  she  said,  suddenly  moving  nearer  the  young 
man,  "  will  it  do  her  any  harm  if  she  changes  her  room?" 

"  By  no  means — I  have  urged  the  same  thing,  but  my  pa- 
tient opposes  me  at  every  turn,"  he  replied,  with  a  shrug  of 
his  shoulders,  in  a  sonorous  but  well  modulated  voice. 

"  Then  there's  no  need  to  lose  any  time,"  said  Kathe,  de- 
cidedly, as  she  took  off  her  gloves  and  jacket  and  laid  them  on 
the  bed. 

"  Nbthing'll  make  me  go  there,"  exclaimed  the  old  house- 
keeper. "  Don't,  please  don't,  Fraulein  Kathe/'  she  begged, 
in  a  whining  tone.  "  That  room  is  the  apple  of  my  eye — ever 
since  I  heard  you  were  coming  I  have  scrubbed  and  cleaned  it 
from  morning  till  night,  to  make  it  nice  for  you — only  the  day 
afore  yesterday  I  put  clean  curtains  up.  No,  no,  I  can't  go, 
I  won't." 

"  Very  well,  you  can  do  as  you  like.  I  did  intend  asking 
you  to  give  me  a  cup  of  coffee  in  the  mill  this  afternoon,  as 
you  used  to  do  when  I  was  a  child.  However,  as  you  are  so 
obstinate,  I  sha'u't  come  at  all,  of  that  you  may  be  quite  sure. 

I  shall  only  stay  a  mouth  in  M ,  and  then  you  may  let  any 

one  you  like  sleep  hi  the  clean  room  with  the  fresh  curtains;  I 
don't  care!" 

That  was  enough;  the  girl's  manner  was  so  cool  and  deter- 
mined that  the  young  doctor  judged  this  was  not  the  first  time 
Bhe  had  had  to  manage  a  v,  avward  invalid. 


31 

Susanne  sighed,  bat  she  slowly  put  her  hand  under  the 
pillow  and  drew  forth  a  key  which  she  laid  on  the  sheets. 

Kathe  quietly  took  it  up,  and  going  over  to  the  wood-basket 
by  the  stove,  said,  as  she  lifted  two  or  three  of  the  billets  in 
her  strong  young  arms: 

"  Wait  a  little,  while  I  light  the  fire  in  the  corner  room." 

"  No,  that  you  can't  do,  I'm  sure,"  said  Dr.  Bruck  quickly, 
as  he  glanced  expressively  at  her  elegant  toilet — at  the  same 
time  laying  his  hat  and  stick  on  the  table. 

"  Then  I  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  myself  if  I  can't/'  she  re- 
plied, earnestly,  but  with  heightened  color,  for  she  had  re- 
marked the  young  man's  doubtful  look. 

She-  left  the  apartment  and  a  few  moments  later  the  fire  was 
burning  brightly  in  the  stove  of  the  corner  room,  while  Dr. 
Bruck,  who  had  followed  her,  opened  the  windows,  in  order 
that  the  fresh  spring  air  might  chase  away  the  close  atmos- 
phere of  the  place. 

"  I  beg  you  to  notice,  Doctor  Bruck,  that  I  have  lighted  the 
fire,  and  that  my  hands  are  still  presentable  for  a  drawing- 
room,"  remarked  Kathe  after  awhile  as  she  held  out  her 
slender  rosy- tipped  fingers  for  his  inspection,  with  a  mocking 
smile  playing  around  her  mouth. 

He  glanced  at  the  young  girl,  and  answered  her  smile  with 
one  as  full  of  expression  and  fun  as  her  own,  but  he  did  not 
reply  in  words.  He  was  trying  to  close  one  of  the  windows, 
through  which  the  wind  came  with  so  much  force  that  it  blew 
the  hair  from  off  Kathe's  temples  and  disarranged  one  of  the 
curtains  at  the  other  side  of  the  room. 

"  Shut  it  quick,  or  the  other  curtains  will  come  to  grief," 
laughed  Kathe,  catching  at  the  muslin  and  holding  it  back  till 
the  window  was  closed;  then  adding  in  a  vexed  tone,  but  with 
her  eyes  full  of  earnest  feeling: 

"  Poor  old  Susanne!  if  she  could  guess  how  little  I  appre- 
ciate these  clean  curtains!  I  suppose  I  must  let  them  remain 
though,  as  they  were  put  up  expressly  for  me — but  the  idea  of 
muslin  before  such  windows,  and  in  this  handsome  mediaeval 
room,  too!  It's  too  bad,  indeed  it  is!  And  T  have  been  dream- 
ing that  I  would  like  to  have  this  apartment  refitted  in  the 
style  of  three  hundred  years  ago — with  round  oriel  windows, 
and  folding  oak  seats  here  in  these  recesses,  and  the  heavy 
door  ornamented  with  iron,  for  I  am  convinced  that  it  was 
there  once,  and  that  grandpapa  had  it  removed — you  can  see 
the  marks  of  the  old  iron  straps.  And  now  there  will  have  to 
be  instead  a  spinning-wheel  in  this  window,  with  old  Susaune 
on  a  chair  beside  it!"  and  she  signed  after  a  moment,  adding; 


82  nr  THE  COUXSELOK'S  norss. 

"  I  had  planned  it  all  out  so  nicely,  and  now  I  know  flhft 
won't  let  me  touch  it." 

"  But  I  don't  understand — you  are  the  mistress  here,  are 
you  not?"  asked  the  doctor,  hesitatingly,  and  looking  at  this 
girl  with  one  of  his  grave  searching  glances. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  know  that,  hut  I  shall  never  be  able  to  assert 
my  authority  in  such  matters,  I  am  convinced  beforehand — I 
am  a  born  coward,"  she  replied,  in  a  low  tone,  but  the  con- 
trast between  this  meek  confession  and  the  bright  fearless 
bearing  of  the  young  lady  appeared  so  ludicrous  that  it  was 
not  till  the  doctor  had  glanced  again  into  the  shy  soft  brown 
eyes  that  he  could  believe  she  spoke  the  truth  concerning  her 
want  of  courage  to  assert  her  authority  respecting  any  wishes 
of  her  own. 

Quietly  moving  from  the  window,  Kathe  began  arranging 
the  furniture  for  the  comfort  of  the  invalid.  The  large  broad 
sofa  was  turned  into  a  bed,  her  grandfather's  old  leather  arm- 
chair was  drawn  out  of  the  draught  by  the  window  and  placed 
nearer  the  stove,  a  little  table  was  fetched  from  the  adjoining 
cabinet  and  put  by  the  chair,  as  also  a  rather  high  foot-stool, 
which  she  discovered  in  one  of  the  corners,  all  of  which  Kathe 
did  in  a  quick  independent  way,  as  if  she  were  accustomed  to 
do  this  kind  of  thing  every  day  of  her  life.  It  almost  seemed, 
as  she  flitted  about  the  room,  as  if  she  must  have  forgotten  the 
presence  of  the  young  man  standing  in  the  embrasure  of  the 
window.  But  presently  she  opened  the  top  drawer  of  the 
press,  and  took  out  a  white  linen  table-cloth  bordered  with 
red,  which  she  unfolded  and  spread  over  the  table  by  the  e»isy- 
chair,  saying,  as  she  turned  her  face  partly  toward  him: 

"  There  is  something  very  pleasant  in  this  old-fashioned 
order.  Everything  remains  in  its  own  place,  just  as  it  used 
to  be  in  the  good  old  time.  It  was  all  so  before  I  was  born, 
and  see,  nothing  has  changed  during  my  six  years'  absence — 
how  home-like  it  is!" 

Then  pointing  to  the  mirror  over  the  low  antique  press,  she 
added: 

"  And  there's  a  corner  of  the  almanac  sticking  out  from 
behind  the  frame-work  of  the  glass  on  which  grandpapa  wrote 
his  memoranda,  and  up  above  there  still  hangs  his  rod  with 
the  faded  ribbons  which  many  a  time  used  to  make  my  mother 
tremble." 

"  And  you,  too?" 

"  Oh,  no,  he  never  took  enough  notice  of  poor  little  me  to 
eare  whet  I  did,"  replied  Kathe,  with  an  air  of  amused  resig- 
nation, as  she  began  dustiig  the  window-ledges  with  the  long 


feather  brush.  "  We  must  have  flowers  here  on  this  window- 
seat,"  she  remarked,  after  a  moment's  pause;  "poor  eld 
Susanne  will  enjoy  their  perfume.  I  will  beg  a  hyacinth  and 
a  pot  of  violets  from  my  brother-in-law,  he  has  so  many  in  his 
printer  garden,  and — " 

11  You  will  have  to  ask  old  Madame  Urach  first;  the  winter 
garden  is  her  pet  amusement,  and  no  one  touches  a  flower 
without  her  sanction. " 

Kathe  opened  her  eyes  wide  with  astonishment  as  she  an' 
swered: 

"Are  they  so  very  formal  in  then-  manners  at  the  villa? 
Why,  I  remember  that  when  papa  lived  the  whiter  garden 
belonged  to  the  whole  family.  But  then/'  and  she  shrugged 
her  shoulders  significantly,  "  my  father's  mother-in-law  was 
only  a  guest  from  time  to  time  at  the  villa.  However,  it  does 
not  matter.  It's  just  as  well  that  I  came  to  the  Mill-house 
first,"  she  went  on,  thoughtfully,  though  her  well  modulated 
voice  had  a  sharp  ring  in  it  as  she  threw  back  her  head,  and 
looked  earnestly  at  her  companion;  "  being  here  will  accustom 
me  to  all  that  formality  before  I  am  forced  to — " 

Dr.  Bruck  turned  suddenly  from  the  window,  and  drew 
nearer  the  young  girl. 

"  But  what  if  they  are  angry  over  there  at  your  not  going 
to  them  first?"  he  asked,  quickly,  interrupting  her  with  a 
slight  tone  of  warning  in  his  voice,  as  if  he  were  anxious  to 
give  her  a  little  advice  which  he  felt  conscious  would  not  be 
heeded. 

"  If  they  are  they  have  no  right  to  be/'  she  replied,  with- 
out hesitation,  while  the  color  deepened  on  her  cheeks.  "  Over 
there  is  nothing  more  to  me  than  if  it  were  a  stranger's  house, 
that  is  as  regards  taking  care  of  me,  and  affection.  My  step- 
sisters and  I  are  nothing  to  each  other;  there  is  not  even  the 
link  of  the  briefest  correspondence  between  us.  Now  and 
then  I  have  written  to  Moriz,  but  then  he  is  my  guardian  as 
well  as  my  brother-in-law.  When  he  married  my  half-sister 
they  lived  hi  the  town;  besides  she  died  very  soon.  Henriette, 
as  you  know,  always  lived  with  her  grandmamma.  I  remem- 
ber that  when  I  was  quite  a  little  girl  in  the  nursery,  Flora 
had  the  management  of  our  house;  she  was  very  beautiful, 
and  very  clever,  but  she  must  have  wonderfully  changed  if  one 
does  not  feel  oppressed  and  insignificant  in  her  presence.  I 
never  dared  talk  to  her  or  even  caress  her  lovely  hand,  and 
I  think  that  row  I  am  older,  it  would  be  very  impertinent  on 
my  part  if  I  were  to  expect  from  her  the  affection  usual  be- 
tween sisters — and — " 


34  DT    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

She  interrupted  herself  suddenly  and  looked  wistfully  up  in 
his  face,  but  he  turned  his  head  toward  the  window  and  gazed 
out  on  the  scenery,  not  helping  her  with  a  syllable  of  reply. 

After  a  pause  she  went  on. 

"  As  things  are  I  can  not  regard  the  villa  as  my  home;  1 
have  no  right  there,  and  if  I  went  I  should  only  be  treated  as 
a  guest,  and  be  no  more  to  them  than  any  other  visitor.  But 
tere  in  this  Mill-house  I  stand  on  my  own  rights;  I  am  mis* 
tress  here — here  I  am  surrounded  by  home  feelings  and  home 
associations,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  old  roof  overhead 
and  Franz  and  Susanne's  care  will  shield  me  from  all  harm  as 
completely  as  the  formality  and  etiquette  of  the  family  over 
there  would  at  all  events/'  and  a  merry  smile  flitted  over  hrr 
fresh  young  face.  "  By  staying  here  I  shall  escape  all  censure 
much  sooner  than  you  think  for,  doctor;  they  won't  expect 
manners  from  the  *  miller's  mouse. ' ' 

And  without  waiting  for  the  doctor's  reply  Kathe  went  over 
to  the  fire,  opened  the  brass  door  of  a  tiny  oven  half-way  up 
the  porcelain  stove,  and  taking  from  her  pocket  a  small  bottle 
of  eau-de-Cologne,  poured  a  few  drops  of  the  liquid  on  the 
heated  iron  plate.  Immediately  a  pleasant  perfume  pervaded 
the  air  of  the  apartment. 

"  Susanne  will  feel  much  better  when  she  comes  here/'  she 
remarked,  as  her  eyes  wandered  round  the  room  to  see  if  all 
was  in  order.  Then,  as  her  glance  fell  on  the  open  door  of 
the  inner  cabinet,  through  which  the  painted  bedstead  could 
be  seen,  standing  near  to  the  window,  and  she  recognized  the 
familiar  yellow  roses  on  its  head  and  foot-boards,  her  face  grew 
pale,  even  her  lips  were  white  as  she  whispered: 

"  It  was  there  grandpapa  died." 

The  young  doctor  shook  his  head,  and  pointed  silently  to 
the  window  corner  of  the  room  in  which  they  were  now  stand- 
ing. 

"  Were  you  with  him?"  she  asked,  gently,  as  she  stepped 
closer  to  him. 

"Yes." 

"  He  died  so  suddenly,  and  my  brother-in-law  announced 
the  sad  event  to  me  in  such  a  very  few  words  that  I  have  not 
yet  heard  the  cause  of  his  death. " 

When  Kathe  spoke  the  doctor  had  his  profile  turned  toward 
her.  His  mustache  and  beard  were  very  thick,  but  Kathe. 
who  was  looking  earnestly  at  him,  noticed  that  he  pressed  hia 
lips  together  as  if  the  words  she  had  just  uttered  pained  him. 
After  a  momentary  pause  he  slowly  moved  round,  and  meet- 


iw  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  8£ 

ing  her  earnest  gaze,  and  looking  her  full  in  the  eyes,  he  said, 
gravely,  in  a  voice  that  trembled  with  emotion: 

"  You  will  be  told,  fraulein,  that  he  died  from  my  want  of 
skill  in  performing  the  operation. " 

The  young  girl  shrunk  back  with  fear,  for  a  moment  her 
eyes  were  fastened  on  the  lips  which  had  spoken,  as  if  ques- 
tioning the  accuracy  of  his  speech;  then  they  dropped  on  the 
ground. 

"  For  the  express  purpose  of  calming  your  fears  you  must 
allow  me  to  add,  that  such  a  statement  is  entirely  false/'  he 
went  on  in  a  low  earnest  tone;  "  but  how  can  I  expect  you  to 
believe  me?"  he  added,  bitterly.  "We  meet  to-day  for  the 
first  time,  and  naturally  know  nothing  of  each  other. " 

She'  might  have  replied  by  some  superficial  remark  vaguely 
expressive  of  sympathy  for  the  painful  position  he  evidently 
found  himself  in  respecting  the  death  of  the  miller;  but  it  did 
not  occur  to  Kathe  to  utter  it.  He  was  right  in  saying  that 
she  could  not  judge  if  he  were  innocent  or  guilty.  He  cer- 
tainly did  not  look  like  a  man  who  could  deliberately  make  a 
false  statement;  and  the  girl  gave  a  shy  glance  at  the  face  be- 
fore her.  She  felt  intuitively  that  he  would  not  purposely 
raise  suspicions  in  her  mind,  and  then  condescend  to  calm 
them  unless  he  had  good  reason  for  so  doing.  And  as  she  was 
not  capable  at  the  moment  of  expressing  her  own  thoughts  she 
was  silent. 

He  had  not  expected  her  to  answer,  but  after  a  moment's 
silence  he  turned  away  with  so  much  pride  and  dignity  in  the 
movement  that  Kathe  felt  a  glow  of  shame  creep  over  her;  her 
cheeks  became  crimson  as  she  whispered  audibly: 

"  I  fully  believe  you.  Shall  I  fetch  Susanne  now?"  then 
she  asked,  in  a  timid  voice,  wondering  why  she  suddenly  felt 
as  if  she  had  behaved  like  a  naughty  child,  and  offended  the 
dignified  grave-looking  man  standing  so  still  by  the  window. 

"  Certainly." 

She  left  the  room  as  quickly  as  possible  with  the  tears 
trembling  on  her  eyelashes.  But  she  dashed  them  away  ere 
entering  the  garret  where  tho  old  housekeeper  sat,  partly 
dressed  with  a  shawl  wrapped  round  her,  ready  to  move  into 
the  larger  room  in  obedience  to  the  young  mistress's  will. 

"  Tell  jne  about  grandpapa's  death,  Susanne,"  demanded 
Kathe,  sitting  down  on  a  low  stool  by  the  old  woman.  "  HOVJ 
was  it  he  died?" 

Susanne  began  at  once  and  related  the  events  of  the  late 
master's  illness  and  death  to  her  listener  as  well  as  she  could 
and  as  she  knew  them,  adding  m  a  querulous  tone: 


30  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

"  The  affair  seems  to  have  done  the  young  doctor  no  end  d 
harm.  At  first  every  one  rau  after  him  and  thought  iota  of 
him,  but  after  master's  death  they  all  began  to  whisper  he 
didn't  know  his  business  well.  That's  just  like  people 
Fraulein  Kathe!  He  was  not  in  fault  about  the  operation 
that  was  all  right,  I  know,  for  I  caw  it  with  my  own  eyes. 
The  master  was  ordered  to  be  very  quiet  after  it  was  all  over — 
he  cuiet,  indeed !  I  should  think  I  ought  to  knew  best  about 
his  being  able  to  keep  himself  quiet.  Why,  if  Franz  spoke  a 
bit  loud  or  a  cart  drove  too  quick  into  'the  yard  he  was  in  a 
rage  in  a  moment.  Indeed  he  was;  I  have  had  enough  to  do 
to  bear  with  him,  I  can  assure  you,  f  raulein,  and  the  thanks 
I  get  is  not  a  penny  left  me — and,  but  for  you,  I  should  have 
to  beg  in  my  old  age. " 

Kathe  held  up  her  finger  in  warning. 

"  Well,  well,  I'll  be  still  and  say  nothing/'  muttered  the 
old  woman  as  Kathe  put  another  shawl  round  her  to  keep  her 
warm.  "  But  I  do  think  it's  hard  for  that  good  kind  man,  the 
doctor,  to  have  his  reputation  blackened,  and  his  bread  taken 
away,  and  he  doing  so  much  for  his  old  aunt,  too;  why,  he 
supports  her  now  because  she  gave  him  her  bit  of  mone)^  to 
keep  him  while  he  studied.  She  lives  with  him,  and  is  as 
proud  of  him  as  a  body  can  be,  and  now  she'll  have  to  suffer, 
too." 

But  Kathe  had  lived  too  many  years  among  her  Dresden 
friends  to  feel  any  very  strong  interest  in  the  private  family 
history  of  her  half-sister  Flora's  lover  just  aow;  she  regretted 
vaguely  for  Dr.  Brack's  sake  tha-  circumstances  had  been 
against  the  complete  success  of  the  operation,  but  she  was  too 
much  occupied  in  thinking  of  her  old  grandfather's  illness  and 
death  to  care  what  the  towns-people  might  or  might  not  say 
respecting  the  skill  of  the  physician.  Putting  her  strong 
young  arms  round  the  feeble  body  of  the  old  housekeeper, 
Kathe  partly  lifted  and  partly  led  her  out  of  her  old  garret 
into  the  more  comfortable  quarters  she  had  prepared  for  her. 
The  door  of  the  corner  room  was  open,  and  when  Susimne  ap- 
peared on  the  threshold  Dr.  Bruck  left  his  place  by  the  stove, 
and  stretching  out  both  his  hands,  lifted  the  tottering  old  woman 
up  in  his  arms,  and  placed  her  as  gently  and  tenderly  as  o 
mother  would  her  child  on  the  comfortable  pillows  in  the  old- 
fashioned  easy-chair. 

A  few  moments  later  Kathe  had  covered  her  feet  with  o 
^farrn  flannel,  and  put  them  on  the  stool,  drawn  the  littte 
table  within  easy  reach  of  her  hand,  and  fastened  back  tho 
clean  muslin  curtain  in  o?d9X  that  she  might  have  an  uninter- 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  87 

ffupted  view  from  the  window,  while  the  old  housekeeper  mut- 
tered half-finished  sentences  of  delight  at  really  finding  herself 
in  the  "  grand  room/-'  and  being  able  to  watch  and  count  each 
sack  of  flour  as  it  was  loaded  or  unloaded  in  the  yard. 

Taking  from  its  pocket  her  tiny  gold  watch,  and  looking  at 
the  hour,  Kathe  said,  with  a  slight  gesture  expressive  of 
amused  despair: 

"  It  is  time  I  went  to  the  villa  or  I  shall  arrive  in  ths  middle 
of  Madame  Urach's  formal  tea  hour,  and  disturb  her  proud 
guests."  Then  putting  on  her  gloves,  she  added:  "  I  shall  be 
back  in  an  hour,  Susanne,  to  cook  your  supper  for  y"ou. " 

"  With  those  white  hands  of  yours?"  exclaimed  the  old 
woman  in  amazement. 

"  With  these  white  hands  of  mine,  certainly.  Did  you 
imagine  they  were  always  idle  in  Dresden?  if  you  did,  Susanne, 
you  did  not  know  my  dear  Lucas;  she  is  just  the  same  now  as 
she  always  was — ever  busy  and  never  idle.  You  ought  to '  see 
her — her  equal  is  not  to  be  found — she  is  a  model  doctor's 
wife!"  laughed  the  young  girl,  as  she  nodded  her  head  and 
loft  the  room. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  clock  was  striking  five  as  Kathe  passed  through  the 
court-yard  on  her  way  to  the  villa,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Bruck. 
The  air  was  much  colder,  and  the  sun-dial,  which  a  couple  of 
hours  before  had  brightly  and  distinctly  marked  the  hour  of 
the  day,  now  looked  gray  and  dull  in  the  overcast  atmosphere. 

The  tinkling  of  the  gate-bell  brought  old  Franz  out  on  the 
doorstep,  followed  by  his  wife,  who  stretched  her  long  neck 
over  her  husband's  shoulder  to  have  a  peep  at  the  new  young 
mistress.  Kathe  spoke  kindly  to  the  woman,  and  begged  her 
to  go  up  to  the  Mill -house  and  take  care  of  Susanne  during 
her  absence  at  the  villa,  which  she  promised  faithfully  to  do 
directly. 

Kathe  was  about  to  continue  her  road,  when  a  violent  con- 
cussion was  felt  hi  the  air,  and  a  moment  later  a  pretty  little 
dove  fell  wounded  and  helpless  on  the  stones  at  her  feet. 

"  The  davil!  the  villains  are  carrying  this  too  far!"  growled 
old  Franz,  as  he  stooped  to  pick  up  the  poor  little  bird  shot 
through  the  wing.  "  Look  here,  wife;  this  is  none  o'  ours — 
I  thought  so — they  are  some  vagabonds  from  over  there, 
shooting  the  poor  lady's  pigeons  right  under  her  nose.  I  wish 
I  was  the  counselor — wouldn't  they  catch  it!"  he  added,  under 
his  breath,  and  shaking  his  horny  fist. 


38  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  Who  is  the  poor  lady,  Franz,  and  who  shoots  her  pig. 
eons?"  asked  Kathe,  opening  wide  her  eyes  with  astonishment. 

"  He  means  Henriette,"  remarked  the  doctor. 

"  And  it's  them  at  the  spinning-mill  who  shoots/'  growled 
Franz  between  his  teeth. 

"  What,  the  hands  in  my  brother-in-lavf's  mill?" 

"  Yes,  fraulein,  they  who  eat  his  bread;  I  say  it's  a  crying 
shame  and  sin.  A  fine  business,  isn't  it,  doctor?  Now  yoi> 
can  see  for  yourself  what  they  are  made  of,  and  the  good  that 
comes  of  soft  measures,  and — " 

"  Are  the  men  on  strike  here?"  asked  Kathe,  turning  to 
Dr.  Bruck,  who  had  such  a  sweet  earnest  smile  on  his  face 
that  the  girl  could  not  resist  giving  him  a  second  look. 

"  No,  on  the  contrary/'  he  replied  shaking  his  head,  hip 
quiet  well-bred  voice  sounding  in  pleasant  contrast  to  the  ex- 
cited tones  of  the  foreman,  "  several  of  the  upper  workmen 
at  the  mill  have  saved  a  little  money,  and  when  the  estate  was 
being  divided  off  into  lots  they  went  to  your  brother-in-law 
Moriz  and  begged  they  might  have  a  bit  of  useless  land  lying 
near  the  flour  manufactory,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  few 
houses,  to  let  out  in  rooms  to  those  of  their  fellow-workmen 
who  could  not  afford  the  high  rents  for  lodgings  in  town. 
The  counselor  promised  it  to  them — all  the  more  readily  be- 
cause the  bit  of  land  in  question  is  in  reality  an  outlying  por- 
tion of  the  park,  and — " 

"  Pardon  my  interrupting  you,  Herr  Doctor,"  broke  in 
Franz,  "  but  that's  just  why  he  couldn't  do  it.  Directly  I 
heard  of  it  I  knew  Madame  Urach  would  never  allow  it;  and 
how  could  one  blame  her  for  not  choosing  to  have  neighbors 
of  that  sort  about  her?  The  ladies  were  very  angry  about  it, 
I  can  tell  you,  and  insisted  that  the  open  bit  of  land  remain 
as  it  was,  for  they  meant  to  have  some  plants  there,  and  that 
put  an  end  to  all  hope  for  the  men. at  the  manufactory.  As 
you  may  imagine,  the  men  are  furious,  and  revenge  them- 
selves whenever  they  get  a  chance." 

"  A  mean  revenge,  too!  Poor  little  innocent  thing!"  said 
Kathe,  taking  the  pigeon  out  of  Franz's  hand. 

"  The  lamentable  part  of  this  business  is  that  this  one  act  of 
barbarity  will  react  as  a  punishment  on  the  whole  lot,  and  no 
3ne  can  blame  proud  old  Madame  Urach  for  not  wishing  to 
fcave  such  ruffians  in  her  neighborhood,"  said  Dr.  Bruck,  with 
1  grave  -EaoA. 

**  i  don't  see  why.  There  are  wicked  and  mean,  revengeful 
persons  in  every  class  of  life,"  broke  in  Kathe,  impulsively? 
*'  I  Know  a  great  deal  about  the  lower  classes,  for  the  doctor 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUBH.  39 

hi  whose  house  I  have  been  living  had  a  number  of  poor 
patients,  and  often  when  he  thought  medicine  would  do  no 
good,  his  wife,  my  dear  old  governess,  used  to  help  him  by 
taking  soup  and  nourishing  things  instead  to  their  homes,  and 
I  always  went  with  her.  Sometimes,  of  course,  we  met  with 
roughness  and  ingratitude — but  generally  with  the  reverse; 
want  and  misery  are  always  heart-rending  to  witness,  and— ' ' 

"  But  not  so  bad  in  reality  as  you  think,  fraulein;  the  peo- 
ple dissemble  very  often,"  interrupted  Franz,  waving  his 
hand.  Kathe  looked  at  him  quietly  for  a  moment  ere  sha 
answered  in  a  mocking  tone: 

"  What  a  grand  man  you  have  become,  Franz!  Of  whom 
do  you  speak?  Don't  you  belong  to  the  people  yourself? 
You  are  at  the  head  of  the  mill  now,  but  what  were  you  once? 
Only  a  laborer,  a  common  workman  like  the  rest  of  them  in 
the  manufactory,  a  workman  who  had  to  bear  many  a  hard 
injustice,  too,  as  I  happen  to  know." 

The  foreman's  weather-beaten  old  face  flushed  a  dark  and 
angry  red,  as  the  young  lady,  his  mistress,  reminded  him  in 
such  plain  unmistakable  words  of  his  position.  For  a  moment 
or  two  he  was  silent  after  she  had  finished  speaking,  then 
stretching  out  his  broad  horny  hand  toward  her,  he  said, 
simply:  "  I  didn't  mean  it,  fraulein;  I  meant  no  harm." 

"  At  heart  you  are  not  bad,  but  you  have  been  a  fortunate 
man,  Franz,  and  are  hard  on  those  who  never  get  on/'  she  re- 
plied, as  she  laid  her  small  hand  for  a  second  in  his,  but  the 
grave  expression  on  his  face  did  not  so  easily  disappear. 

Taking  out  her  handkerchief  she  tenderly  laid  it  over  the 
suffering  bird,  and  tying  the  four  corners  together,  hung  it  on 
her  finger  as  if  it  had  been  a  basket,  saying  as  she  nodded 
farewell  to  the  foreman: 

"  I  will  take  the  tiny  invalid  to  Henriette." 

"  I  think  this  will  be  the  shortest  way,"  remarked  the  doc- 
tor, opening  a  small  door  leading  direct  from  the  court-yard 
into  the  park,  and  standing  aside  to  let  Kathe  pass  through. 

"  I  recognize  nothing  here,"  said  the  young  girl,  when  they 
were  outside,  as  she  stared  around  with  a  perplexed  look  on 
her  face.  "  It  seems  to  me  as  if  this  part  of  the  park  had  been 
taken  up  and  shaken  together  by  giant  hands.  What  are  they 
doing  down  there?"  she  asked,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  an 
open  space,  where  some  workmen's  heads  just  appeared  above 
ground. 

"  They  are  digging  a  lake.  Madame  Urach  has  a  fancy  for 
looking  at  swans  swimming  about  on  a  broad  sheet  of  water. '' 


40  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  And  they  are  building  over  there  on  the  south  side;  what 
is  that  to  be?" 

"  A  palm-house,  I  believe." 

"  Moriz  must  be  very  rich,"  she  said,  thoughtfully. 

"It  is  said  he  is,"  was  the  quiet  answer,  but  uttered  in  a 
tone  that  gave  no  indication  of  the  speaker's  private  opinion 
on  the  subject. 

Standing  in  the  full  light  of  the  open  air,  far  enough  away 
for  her  to  observe  him  at  his  ease,  Kathe  noticed  what  a  very 
remarkable-looking  man  her  companion  was.  His  dignified 
military  bearing  and  handsome  sunburned  countenance,  with 
its  brown  heavy  mustache  and  curling  beard,  and  the  clear 
straightforward  expression  shining  in  his  eyes,  made  her  in- 
tuitively feel  that  the  misfortune  which  had  happened  to  him 
in  the  miller's  death  had  not  come  to  him  from  want  of  firm- 
ness and  self-possession,  or  from  any  overconfidence  in  his 
own  skill. 

"  He  would  do  nothing  rash,  I  am  sure,  and  his  face  is  too 
noble  willfully  to  injure  another  if  he  could  help  it,"  thought 
the  young  girl,  her  mind  still  dweDing  on  the  strange  state- 
ment she  had  heard  from  his  own  lips,  when  she  questioned 
him  about  her  grandfather's  death. 

"  ShaU  I  lead  you,  fraulein?" 

She  started,  and  giving  a  bewildering  glance  over  the  broken 
and  filled-in  pathways,  accepted  the  arm  Dr.  Bruck  offered 
her.  Her  hand  had  not  rested  for  two  minutes  on  the  doc- 
tor's coat-sleeve,  when  she  suddenly  drew  it  away  again,  and 
standing  still,  exclaimed  with  a  merry,  silvery  laugh:  "  What 
a  coward  I  am!  I  do  believe  I'm  nervous!  Do  you  think  I 
shall  see  Flora  directly  I  arrive  at  the  house?"  and  her  laugh 
changed  into  a  deep-drawn  sigh.  The  young  man's  face 
flushed  as  he  replied  in  a  constrained  tone : 

"  As  far  as  I  know  she  is  out  driving;"  then,  as  if  to  avoid 
another  question,  he  went  on  quickly,  "  you  will  find  the 
whole  household  in  a  state  of  excitement  to-day,  on  account 
of  the  nobility  which  has  just  been  conferred  on  Moriz. " 

"  And  you  only  tell  me  that  now!"  she  cried.  "  What  is 
it  for?  What  has  he  done?" 

"  Well,  he  has  done  a  great  deal  to  raise  and  improve  the 
commercial  interests  of  the  land,"  he  answered,  as  quickly  and 
eagerly  as  if  there  had  been  a  doubt  about  it;  "  and  Moriz  has 
such  a  large  heart — he  does  a  great  deal  for  the  poor. " 

Kathe  shook  her  head. 

"  He  is  a  very  lucky  fellow,  but  it  makes  me  feel  anxious  ** 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  41 

"  Lucky!'*  repeated  the  young  man;  "  that  depends  upon 
how  he  regards  the  change  himself. ' ' 

"  As  a  great  blessing/'  she  replied,  decidedly.  "  I  know 
that  Moriz's  chief  aim  in  life  is  to  rise  high  in  social  position. 
His  last  letter  to  me  was  full  of  self-congratulation  and  rapt- 
ure that  my  fortune  was  far  beyond  what  he  had  been  led  to 
expect. " 

Doctor  Bruck  did  not  answer  directly:  he  walked  on  several 
yards  ere  he  asked,  with  a  side  glance  at  the  young  girl : 

"  And  you — do  you  not  care  to  be  richer  than  you  thought 
for?" 

Kathe  bent  her  head  gracefully  forward,  and  looked  him 
straight  in  the  face. 

"  You  appear  to  expect  a  very  decided  answer  from  me — a 
very  earnest  No;  but  unfortunately,  with  the  best  will  in  the 
world,  I  can  not  bring  myself  to  utter  it.  I  think  it  is  a  very 
pleasant  thing  to  be  rich." 

He  laughed  softly  to  himself,  but  did  not  reply.  Very  soon, 
by  rapid  walking,  they  had  reached  the  linden  avenue,  where 
the  long,  broad  pathway  had  lately  been  freshly  graveled. 
Hurrying  forward  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  avenue,  the  young 
girl  stood  still,  and  pointing  to  a  distant  wooden  bridge  formed 
of  a  few  branches  of  trees  roughly  fastened  together  across  the 
running  river,  cried  out  joyfully: 

"  Ah,  the  dear  old  friend  is  standing  there  still!" 

"  That  leads  to  the  property  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river — 

"  I  know,  beyond  the  meadow  and  fruit  garden — but  be- 
yond that  again  stands  an  old  lovely  little  house.  In  former 
times  it  was  a  kind  of  farm  belonging  to  the  castle,  and  when 
I  was  here  it  used  to  be  covered  with  a  vine,  and  had  broad 
stone  steps  leading  to  the  hall  door.  It  was  always  so  quiet 
and  still  there.  Susanne  always  bleached  the  linen  in  the  gar- 
den, and  in  spring  the  ground  was  blue  with  violets;  I  always 
hunted  for  the  first  violet  there,  I  remember." 

"  And  you  can  do  it  again  if  you  like — the  place  has  become 
mine  since  this  morning,"  he  answered,  casting  a  warm  look 
toward  the  distant  tiny  estate. 

Kathe  thanked  him  and  flushed  slightly  as  she  thoughtfully 
and  slowly  walked  along  the  gravel  pathway,  wondering  if  her 
sister  Flora  would  one  day  inhabit  that  small  house  as  its  mis- 
tress. If  Flora  with  her  proud  bearing  and  the  majestic  sweep 
of  her  trailing  skirts,  who  never  considered  any  drawing-room 
in  which  she  happened  to  be  present  too  large  or  too  costly  in 
furniture,  if  Flora  with  her  unbending  ambition  and  love  of 


42  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

display  could  bring  herself  to  live  in  that  old-fashioned  house 
with  its  Dutch  tiles  and  deal  floors,  then,  indeed,  she  must  be 
greatly  changed  from  the  haughty  ambitious  girl  she  had  been 
six  years  ago! 

From  this  and  other  thoughts  of  a  similar  kind,  Kathe  was 
roused  presently  by  the  sound  of  approaching  wheels.  She 
looked  up  and  saw  that  they  were  so  near  the  villa  that  she 
jould  have  traced  the  pattern  of  the  lace  curtains  hanging  at 
die  windows.  Inside  the  house  all  seemed  still,  but  along  the 
carriage-drive  leading  to  the  grand  entrance,  a  pair  of  mag- 
nificent bay  horses  came  trotting  nearer  and  nearer,  drawing  a 
handsome  low  phaeton,  as  bright  and  shining  as  only  a  new 
phaeton  can  be.  A  lady  held  the  reins  with  a  light,  firm 
hand.  She  was  wrapped  from  head  to  foot  in  rich,  costly  fur 
— the  white  drooping  feather  in  her  hat  well  became  the  class- 
ical beauty  of  her  face,  and  contrasted  exquisitely  with  the 
golden  color  of  her  hair,  one  braid  of  which  had  escaped  from 
its  fastening,  and  hung  over  the  rich,  dark  fur  on  her  shoul- 
der. 

"  Flora!  how  lovely  she  is!"  cried  Kathe,  with  enthusiasm, 
as  she  stretched  out  her  hand  toward  the  passing  carriage,  but 
neither  Flora  nor  the  counselor,  who  sat  by  her  side,  seemed 
to  have  noticed  the  girl,  for  the  elegant  phaeton  rolled  rapidly 
onward  till  it  stopped  before  the  portal  of  the  villa. 

Two  or  three  pebbles  suddenly  flew  past  Kathe,  evidently 
struck  unconsciously  with  the  doctor's  heavy  walking-stick, 
and  then,  for  the  first  time,  the  girl  remarked  that  she  was 
some  distance  in  advance  of  her  companion.  She  turned  to 
meet  him,  and  fancied  that  he  seemed  more  reserved  and 
colder  in  mien  than  he  had  been  hitherto,  and  as  she  neared 
him  she  could  hardly  repress  a  satirical  smile  from  appearing 
on  her  face  as  she  saw  him  glance  at  her  figure,  and  then 
quickly  fix  his  eyes  on  some  other  object,  for  she  knew  that 
she  had  detected  him  in  the  thought:  "  What  an  ungainly 
creature  this  girl  is,  in  comparison  with  my  beautiful  be- 
trothed." 

"  I  am  astonished  at  the  cool  courage  Flora  displays  in  driv- 
ing/' she  observed,  when  he  was  close  beside  her  again. 

"  Her  companion's  contempt  for  death  is  much  more  to  be 
wondered  at.  Those  young  horses  were  only  bought  yester- 
day, and  the  counselor  is  trying  them  for  the  first  time  to- 
day," he  answered,  between  his  teeth;  and  Kathe  felt  that  the 
man  must  be  strongly  moved  to  speak  in  such  a  tone.  She 
did  a  wise  thing  and  was  silent,  half  frightened  at  the  moody 
expression  which  had  settled  on  her  companion's  face. 


is  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  43 


CHAPTER  V. 

a  word  more  was  spoken  by  either  till  they  reached  the 
.louse  and  had  entered  the  hall,  where  a  man-servant  stood 
watching  the  disappearance  of  the  phaeton. 

"  Is  the  master  at  home?"  asked  the  doctor. 

"  Yes,  and  the  ladies  also;  they  are  all  in  the  winter  gar- 
den," was  the  answer. 

"  In  madame's  apartments,"  thought  Kathe  to  herself. 
She  had  recovered  her  composure  and  usual  calm  manner, 
and,  taking  a  card  from  her  bag,  she  handed  it  to  the  man, 
saying: 

"  Take  that  to  the  Herr  Counselor." 

"  Standing  on  etiquette  here?"  said  Dr.  Bruck,  smiling, 
when  the  footman  had  noiselessly  tripped  over  the  Persian  hall 
carpets  and  disappeared  behind  a  door. 

On  etiquette!  certainly,"  she  replied,  earnestly,  adding: 
"It  is  far  the  best;  an  unannounced  entrance  among  tho 
family  would  be  bad  taste  on  my  part.  As  it  is,  I  am  very 
much  afraid  that  I  shall  place  the  master  in  an  awkward  pre- 
dicament by  my  unceremonious  appearance/' 

She  had  barely  finished  speaking  when  a  door  opened  on  the 
left  side  of  the  hall,  and  the  counselor  appeared. 

"  Good  gracious,  Kathe,  you  here!"  he  stammered  out,  in 
a  voice  that  was  anything  but  joyous  in  its  ring. 

Drawing  up  her  figure  to  its  full  height  the  young  girl 
walked  across  to  her  brother-in-law,  and  bowing  gracefully, 
said,  with  gentle  dignity: 

"  You  must  not  be  vexed,  dear  Moriz,  at  my  forestalling 
your  intentions;  I  considered  myself  quite  old  enough  to  come 
without  being  fetched.  I  am  no  longer  a  child. " 

He  looked  at  her  for  a  moment  as  if  petrified,  then  recover- 
ing his  wits  he  said  slowly,  as  he  scanned  her  critically  from 
head  to  foot: 

"  Yes,  you  are  quite  right,  Kathe.  You  are  no  longer  the 
child  I  used  to  lead  by  the  hand.  Now,  welcome  here!" 

Then  noticing  the  doctor's  presence  for  the  first  time,  he 
added,  as  he  gave  him  his  hand : 

"  You  two  met  in  the  hall — let  me  introduce  you  at  once 
to—" 

"  No  need  to  do  that,  Moriz!  I  did  it  for  myself  a  couple 
of  hours  ago,"  interrupted  the  young  girl,  with  a  mischievous 


44  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

smile.     "  Doctor  Bruck  was  calling  on  his  patient  Susanne, 
when  I  arrived  at  the  Mill-house/' 

The  counselor's  brow  became  clouded. 

"  You  went  to  the  mill  first?"  he  said,  in  an  embarrassed 
manner.  "But,  dear  child,  Grandmamma  Urach  has  very 
kindly  expressed  her  intention  of  receiving  you,  and  you  ought 
to  have  come  direct  to  her,  instead  of  going  first  to  see  your 
old  friend  Susaune  the  old  housekeeper.  For  goodness'  sake, 
don't  mention  it  in  there!"  he  whispered,  earnestly. 

"  Do  you  really  expect  that  from  me?"  said  Kathe,  her 
clear  ringing  tones  sounding  almost  startling  in  contrast  to 
the  counselor's  anxious  whisper.  "  I  can  not  tell  a  falsehood 
if  the  subject  is  mentioned — I  have  no  love  for  secrecy,  Moriz; 
but  if  " — and  for  an  instant  she  shrunk  back  speechless  at 
the  dark  glow  which  overspread  his  face,  then,  as  it  faded 
away  and  left  him  paler  than  usual,  she  went  on  courageous- 
ly— "  if  I  have  done  wrong,  I  sha'n't  mind  acknowledging  it; 
it  will  not  cost  me  my  head,  I  suppose!" 

"  If  you  take  a  kindly  hint  in  that  tragic  fashion,  then  of 
course  I  have  nothing  more  to  say,"  he  replied,  somewhat 
'.sharply.  "  It  won't  cost  you  your  head,  but  it  will  considera- 
bly increase  the  difficulty  of  your  position  in  my  house.  How- 
ever, do  as  you  will!  You  will  soon  find  out  for  yourself  if 
such  direct  straightforwardness  will  answer  in  the  refined  circle 
you  will  mix  in  here!"  he  added,  more  facetiously  than  he  had 
yet  spoken,  as  he  led  the  way  to  the  dining-room  adjoining 
the  winter  garden,  and  opened  the  door. 

But  inside  it  was  no  longer  the  simply  furnished  old-fash- 
ioned room  Kathe  remembered.  The  wall  which  had  sepa- 
rated it  from  the  winter  garden  had  been  removed,  and  in  its 
place  two  or  three  handsome  columns  supported  the  ceiling, 
of  exquisite  color  and  design,  at  the  base  of  which  a  bronze 
grating  ornamented  with  gold  connected  the  columns  with  the 
sides  of  the  room,  and  divided  the  highly  polished  inlaid  floor- 
ing of  the  apartment  from  the  tesselated  pavement  of  the  win- 
ter garden.  Behind  the  grating  it  was  one  mass  of  flowers 
and  evergreens;  sweet-scented  may-flowers  perfumed  the  air, 
costly  Parma  violets  grew  in  rich  luxuriance  at  the  foot  of  a 
handsome  dragon-tree,  and  everywhere  the  rarest  and  choicest 
plants  were  arranged  in  artistic  order;  the  whole  place  framed 
in  by  daintily  ornamented  walls  and  stained  glass  windows. 
From  the  roof  above  the  pillars  hung  several  baskets  of  richly 
colored  trailing  creepers,  under  one  of  which  Flora  was  stand- 
ing as  the  door  opened.  She  still  wore  her  costly  furs;  one 
of  the  creeping  branches  of  the  clematis  attached  to  the 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  45 

columns  had  caught  across  her  hat,  as  she  held  up  her  black 
satin  skirt  with  one  hand,  while  the  other  rested  gracefully 
against  the  columns,  as  soft  and  creamy  in  its  color  as  the 
clematis  bloom  above  her  head. 

As  Kathe's  tall  figure  advancd  into  the  room,  she  raised  her 
eyebrows  with  an  air  of  astonishment  not  unmixed  with  curi- 
osity, followed  a  moment  later  by  a  sudden  drooping  of  the 
eyelids,  while  a  sarcastic  smile  flitted  round  her  lips. 
,  "  Now,  Flora,  guess  whom  I  have  brought!"  cried  the 
counselor. 

"  That  won't  take  me  long  or  be  difficult  either.  It  is 
Kathe,  who  has  evidently  traveled  here  alone,"  replied  Flora, 
in  her  usual  prompt  and  decided  manner.  "  Besides,  any  one 
who  knew  old  Frau  Sommer  must  see  in  an  instant  that  this 
tall  girl  with  her  pink  and  white  apple-blossom  face  must  be 
her  granddaughter.  But  her  eyes  and  hair  are  strikingly  like 
your  late  wife's,  Moriz;  Clotilde's  eyes  were  exactly  like  hers 
at  her  age." 

With  a  supple  movement  she  freed  herself  from  the  clinging 
clematis  bough,  and  stepping  toward  her  young  half-sister, 
bent  her  head  to  kiss  her. 

Yes,  that  was  Flora,  unaltered  in  any  outward  respect,  ex- 
cept perhaps  that  the  lines  about  the  mouth  and  chin  were 
slightly  harder,  from  long  years  of  constant  indulgence  of 
power  and  command.  With  the  same  cool,  indifferent  man- 
ner as  she  had  kissed  her  sister  after  six  years'  separation  she 
now  turned  to  Dr.  Bruck  and  said,  as  she  carelessly  held  out 
her  hand,  not  as  a  girl  greeting  her  lover,  but  rather  as  if  two 
college  chums  were  addressing  each  other: 

"  How  do,  Bruck?" 

The  young  man  took  her  hand  for  a  moment  and  then  let  it 
go  again  without  any  reply  to  her  laconic  greeting. 

This  state  of  perfect  indifference  of  manner  between  the  be- 
trothed pair  seemed  to  be  an  understood  thing  with  the  coun- 
selor, but  Kathe,  whose  experience  of  lovers  was '  of  a  very 
different  kind,  could  hardly  repress  her  astonishment,  and 
gazed  from  one  to  the  other  in  silent  perplexed  amazement. 

"  Grandmamma!"  cried  Flora,  turning  her  head  in  the 
direction  of  the  winter  garden  with  a  malicious  twinkle  in  her 
expressive  eyes — "grandmamma,  our  little  one  has  given 
you  and  your  family  the  pleasure  of  looking  at  her  a,  month 
before  she  was  expected." 

At  Flora's  first  call  the  elderly  lady  emerged  from  behind  a 

froup  of  camellia  plants,  regarding  with  a  keen  curiosity,  un- 
nown  to  herself,  perhaps,  the  young  girl  iust  arrived;  but  at 


46  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

the  conclusion  of  Flora's  mischievous  remark,  Mme.  Urach 
knit  ner  brows  in  an  ominous  frown,  and  her  pale  face  colored 
with  displeasure  as  she  replied  in  an  icy  tone : 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  I  ever  expressed  any  great  curiosity 
for  '  looking  at '  your  sister,  as  you  say,  Flora.  When  I  ex- 
pressed my  pleasure  at  Kathe's  coming  among  us,  and  said 
that  she  would  be  welcome,  it  was  because  she  is  the  daughtej 
of  your  dear  departed  father,  and  your  sister/' 

And  so  saying,  she  moved  a  few  steps  forward,  and  held  out 
both  her  hands  as  if  to  embrace  the  young  girl;  but  Kathe, 
pretending  not  to  see  her  intention,  courtesied  with  a  low  Cere- 
monious bow  before  the  old  lady,  as  if  she  now  for  the  first 
time  in  her  life  stood  in  the  presence  of  her  father's  proud 
mother-in-law.  An  observant  looker-on  would  have  divined 
the  motive  for  this  strange  act  on  the  young  girl's  part  from 
the  sarcastic  curl  of  her  lip,  but  the  old  lady  accepted  it  as  a 
simple  mark  of  the  deep  respect  her  presence  excited  in  the, 
mind  of  her  lately  arrived  guest,  and  kissing  her  on  the  fore 
head,  her  eyes  glancing  uneasily  toward  the  door  as  if  expect- 
ing  Kathe's  traveling  companion  to  enter,  she  said: 

"  Did  you  really  come  alone,  as  Flora  suggested?" 

"  Certainly  I  did,  madame;  1  wished  to  try  how  I  could  get 
on  independent  of  any  one,  and  my  kind  governess  said  I  was 
quite  right,"  replied  Katbe,  unconsciously  passing  her  fingers 
over  the  place  the  elder  lady  had  touched  with  her  cold  lips. 

"  Yes,  of  course,  that  is  just  like  her,"  said  Mme.  Urach, 
with  a  smile  of  pitying  scorn  hovering  about  her  mouth. 
"  She  was  always  a  very  independent  person,  and  your  dear 
papa  spoiled  her,  my  dear,  and  let  her  do  exactly  as  she  liked, 
though,  of  course,  I  must  allow  she  always  did  right — 

"  And  judiciously,  too — and  that  is  why,  I  have  no  doubt, 
that  papa  confided  to  her  care  his  untamable  youngest  daugh- 
ter," broke  in  Kathe,  in  the  free,  unembarrassed  manner  that 
was  her  special  charm — but  which  did  not  seem  to  please 
Mme.  Urach. 

Shrugging  her  shoulders  with  a  deprecating  air,  the  old  lady 
replied : 

"Your  father  did  what  he  thought  best  for  your  welfare, 
dear  Kathe,  and  I  have  never  been  in  the  habit  of  criticising- 
his  actions.  But  he  was  a  man  who  had  a  great  admiration 
for  decorum  of  manner  in  ladies,  and — I  wonder  what  he  would 
have  thought  of  his  little  daughter's  impulsive  proceeding  in 
arriving  at  home  in  this  sudden  and  unceremonious  way?" 

"  I  can't  say,"  replied  Kathe.  "  But  papa  would  have 
known  and  acknowledged  whose  blood  ran  in  his  child's  veins 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  47 

—miller's  blood,  madame,  able  and  willing  to  iace  the  worli 
fearlessly. " 

The  counselor  cleared  his  throat  and  stroked  his  handsome 
mustache  at  the  conclusion  of  this  bold  remark,  and  "  Grand- 
mamma "  looked  as  if  she  had  suddenly  encountered  a  blast  oi 
cold  air  straight  in  the  face,  but  Flora  laughed  aloud  and 
clapped  her  hands  as  she  exclaimed: 

"  Good  gracious,  child,  how  ingenuous  you  are!  Grand- 
mamma," she  added,  turning  with  a  malicious  gleam  in  her 
eyes  to  the  elderly  lady  who  had  recovered  her  usual  calm 
manner.  "  Grandmamma,  Kathe  should  be  made  to  repeat 
that  sentiment  the  first  time  she  is  present  at  one  of  Moriz's 
grand,  entertainments — wouldn't  it  make  everybody  open  their 
eyes!" 

"  My  dear,  I  shall  trust  to  Kathe's  inborn  tact  and  refined 
taste  to  know  what  to  say  under  such  circumstances,"  an- 
swered the  old  lady,  shaking  hands  with  the  doctor,  and  part- 
ing her  thin  lips  in  one  of  her  peculiar  smiles,  that  no  one  was 
quite  certain  whether  it  was  meant  in  sweetness  or  in  bitter- 
ness. 

"  Tact,  tact,  that's  all  very  well  to  say,"  said  Flora,  shak. 
ing  her  head,  incredulously.  "  Freedom  from  conventional 
restraint  seems  also  inborn.  The  fault  lies  in  that  her  old 
governess  does  not  seem  to  have  understood  how  to  teach  hei 
worldly  wisdom.  However,  I  for  my  part  am  glad  you  have 
come  alone,  Kathe,  and  I  think  it  is  better  for  you  to  be  alone 
and  independent  than  tied  to  the  apron-strings  of  your  old- 
fashioned  homely  governess." 

Kathe  had  taken  off  her  hat,  the  perfumed  heat  of  the  room 
making  her  feel  too  warm — and  thus  displaying  the  coils  oi 
golden-brown  hair  crowning  her  head,  which  made  her  appeal 
even  taller  than  before. 

"  Homely? — my  dear  old  Lucas  homely?"  she  cried,  scorn 
fully  throwing  back  her  head  with  a  graceful  movement  that 
well  became  her  young  supple  figure.  "  A  more  refined, 
poetical  woman  is  would  be  difficult  to  imagine." 

"  Oh,  yes,  grows  enthusiastic  over  the  moon,  and  copies  sen 
timental  verses — or  perhaps  she  composes  herself,  is  that  it?'1 

The  young  girl  fixed  her  glowing  eyes  with  a  proud  look  on 
the  face  of  her  half-sister  as  she  answered,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation: 

"  She  does  not  copy  sentimental  verses,  but  her  husband'* 
manuscripts,  because  his  handwriting  is  difficult  to  decipher — 
and  she  does  not  write  novels  and  poetry  because  she  has  no 
time,  and  yet  there  is  plenty  of  Dpetry  ia  her.  Ah,  yes,  Flora, 


48  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

you  may  laugh  and  be  sarcastic,  as  of  old,  but  you  can't  mako 
me  alter  my  opinion  of  my  dear  old  governess.  She  brings 
the  poetry  of  her  nature  into  every-day  use,  in  the  charming 
way  she  manages  her  house,  and  makes  her  simple  home  a 
place  of  love  and  happiness- — every  corner  of  the  house  she 
seems  to  fill  with  her  bright  smile  and  pleasant  thoughts  as 
she  looks  after  the  comfort  of  her  hard-working  husband,  my 
troublesome  self,  and  anybody  and  everybody  about  her. " 

"Bravo,  Kathe!"  cried  Henriette,  emerging  from  the  win- 
ter garden,  throwing  a  handful  of  fresh-gathered  violets  against 
the  young  girl's  bosom,  from  whence  they  fell  to  the  floor. 
"  Bravo!  I  would  rush  over  and  embrace  you,  but — look  at 
me,"  she  added,  as  she  pressed  her  hands  together  across  her 
breast,  and  leaned  against  the  bronze  grating;  "  look  at  me — 
and — don't  you  want  to  laugh?  You  are  so  strong  and 
healthy-looking,  and  I — I — "  her  voice  faltered,  and  she 
turned  away. 

In  an  instant  Kathe  was  by  her  side  with  her  arms  round 
the  poor  little  deformed  figure,  kissing  her  gently,  and  with 
tears  rolling  down  her  own  cheeks,  asking  her  how  it  was  she 
had  "  grown  so  terribly  thin. " 

Flora  bit  her  lip  as  she  watched  the  handsome  girl  bending 
with  such  tender  solicitude  over  her  weak  little  half-sister,  and 
a  cloud  passed  across  her  brow  as  the  unwelcome  thought 
arose,  that  perhaps  this  fearless  creature,  with  her  bright 
young  face  and  truth-loving  tongue,  might  prove  a  thorn  in 
her  path  by  casting  a  shadow  over  the  hitherto  undisputed 
sway  of  the  proud  beauty.  The  thought  seemed  to  heat  her 
forehead,  for  she  lifted  her  hat,  and  pushing  her  hair  from  her 
temples,  said,  impatiently,  as  she  glanced  significantly  at  the 
white  bundle  still  hanging  from  Kathe 's  wrist: 

"  Did  yon  bring  that  very  aristocratic-looking  parcel  with 
you  from  Dresden?" 

Without  deigning  a  reply  to  her  elder  sister's  question, 
Kathe  undid  the  knot  of  the  handkerchief,  and,  handing  the 
wounded  pigeon  to  Henriette,  said,  gently: 

"  It  belongs  to  you;  the  poor  little  thing  was  shot  in  the 
wing  and  fell  down  on  the  pavement  of, the  mill  court-yard 
while  I  stood  there." 

Thus  her  visit  to  the  Mill-house  was  told  quite  unconscious- 
ly, but  Mme.  Urach  did  not  appear  to  have  noticed  the  end  of 
Kathe's  sentence.  With  heightened  color  and  a  stern  expres- 
sion of  countenance  she  turned  to  the  counselor,  and  pointing 
to  the  wounded  bird,  said,  reproachfully: 

"  That's  the  fourth,  Moriz." 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  49 

es  And  my  pet,,  my  little  silver-headed  treasure!"  cried  Hen- 
riette,  wiping  away  the  tears  that  would  run  down  her  pale, 
thin  cheeks. 

"  I  must  entreat  you,  dear  grandmamma,  not  to  reproach 
me  on  this  subject  any  more,"  replied  the  counselor,  white 
with  fear  and  anger.  "  I  have  done  all  I  can  to  find  out  the 
culprit  or  culprits  and  put  a  stop  to  this  sort  of  thing,  but  the 
wretch  covers  himself  behind  the  phalanx  of  a  couple  of  hun- 
dred of  disappointed  and  exasperated  men,  and  there  is  really 
nothing  to  be  done,"  he  added,  shrugging  his  shoulders.  "  I 
have  begged  Henriette  over  and  over  again  to  confine  her 
pigeons  to  the  house  till  the  men  have  calmed  down,  but — " 

"  So  we  will  have  to  give  way,  you  think?  Perhaps  that 
course  will  be  the  best  to  pursue,"  said  the  old  lady,  with  bit- 
ter sarcasm,  as  she  slightly  lifted  the  lace  scarf  she  wore  from 
her  shoulders.  "  Didn't  you  say  yourself,  Moriz,  that  indiffer- 
ence on  our  part  would  only  encourage  them  in  their  daring? 
Depend  upon  it,  they  will  soon  tire  of  shooting  tame  pigeons, 
and  fly  at  higher  game. " 

"  Then  why  remain  so  inactive,  grandmamma?  They  are 
not  so  on  the  other  side,"  remarked  Flora,  carelessly.  "  This 
morning  my  maid  found  another  threatening  letter  lying  on 
my  window-sill;  it  was  such  a  dirty,  filthy  bit  of  paper  that  she 
wouldn't  touch  it  with  her  fingers,  but  held  it  with  the  fire- 
tongs  while  I  read  it.  It  is  still  in  her  room,  Moriz,  if  you 
wish  to  make  use  of  it.  There  is  nothing  new  in  it,  of  course 
— always  the  same  phrases.  But  I  should  certainly  like  to 
know  why  these  men  single  me  out  to  vent  on  me  their  hatred 
of  the  upper  classes." 

Kathe  looked  up  at  her  sister,  and  the  involuntary  thought 
arose  in  her  mind  that  it  was  perhaps  not  so  much  the  upper 
classes  as  a  body  .hat  were  here  hated  as  the  proud,  haughty, 
overbearing  individual  who  had  been  thus  singled  out  as  a  fit- 
ting recipient  for  these  dirty  marks  of  the  angry  men's  inten- 
tions. 

"  Besides,  it  makes  it  almost  ludicrous  that  I  should  be  thus 
threatened,  considering  they  know  how  interested  I  am  in  the 
social  question,"  continued  Flora,  with  a  forced  laugh.  "  I 
have  already  published  several  articles  hi  favor  of  the  working- 
man.  " 

11  Writing  alone  doesn't  accomplish  much  nowadays,"  re- 
marked Dr.  Bruck,  from  across  the  room.  "  The  most  power- 
ful pens  have  worn  themselves  to  the  stump  in  writing  on  the 
subject,  and  yet  the  movement  gains  daily  more  force,  and 
sweeps  into  air  all  such  written  theories. " 


50  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Every  one  turned  and  looked  at  the  doctor,  but  Flora  asked, 
pointedly: 

;'  What  ought  to  be  done,  then?" 

"  What  ought  to  be  done?"  he  repeated,  quietly.  "  Go 
among  the  men  and  examine  for  yourself  the  justice  of  their 
demands.  What's  the  use  of  your  attempting  to  try  and  solve 
the  problem  of  '  the  for  and  against '  from  a  mass  of  papers 
and  documents  on  your  table  which — " 

"  But  I  beg — "  and  her  eyes  flashed  with  an  angry  glare. 

;'  Which  only  adds  confusion  to  an  already  complex  ques- 
tion/ '  he  went  on,  not  noticing  her  interruption.  "It  is  not 
likely  your  articles  are  ever  read  by  the  workmen,  and  if  they 
were,  what  good  could  they  do?  Words,  written  words,  won't 
build  them  houses.  But  the  women  related  to  the  masters 
have  great  power  and  influence  in  these  matters  if  they  only 
knew  how  to  use  them,  by  softening  the  stern  decisions  of 
their  husbands  and  fathers  and  the  masters,  and  inducing  them 
by  gentle  persuasions  to  yield  now  and  again  to  just  demands, 
even  if  it  appears  against  their  own  interests  for  the  moment. 
But  few  women  take  the  trouble  to  think  about  the  questions 
at  all,  and  if  they  do,  they  don't  allow  their  hearts  to  speak. 
They  adopt  the  lamentable  method  in  fashion  nowadays  of 
coping  with  men  before  the  public,  quite  forgetting  that  their 
sphere  of  action  ought  to  be  at  home,  and  that  they  only  in- 
crease and  widen  the  breach  each  time  they  depart  from  it. " 

Mme.  Urach  smoothed  the  folds  of  her  satin  dress  with  her 
slender  hands,  and,  without  any  reference  to  the  latter  part  of 
Dr.  Brack's  remarks,  replied  coldly,  when  he  had  finished 
speaking: 

"  I  agree  with  you,  but  I  am  not  accustomed  to  give  my 
alms  direct  to  the  poor,  so  I  have  no  doubt  they  have  no  idea 
either  how  much  or  how  often  I  give;  still  their  ignorance  on 
the  point  does  not  distress  me,  not  even  if  it  accounts  for  the 
rough  acts  committed  lately." 

These  rough  doings  are  disgraceful.  No  one  can  condemn 
them  more  strongly  than  I  do,"  replied  Dr.  Bruck,  coolly, 
"  but — " 

"  Well,  but?  You  mean,  I  suppose,  that  it  is  we  '  women 
related  to  the  masters  '  who  have  provoked  these  outrages — 
eh?" 

"  Yes,  I  do,  madame,"  boldly  answered  the  young  doctor, 
drawing  closer  to  the  old  lady.  "  By  preventing  the  master 
from  assisting  his  workmen  in  a  very  plausible  scheme  for  the 
benefit  of  both.  The  workmen's  demand  in  this  case  was  not 
of  the  exaggerated  unjust  kind  which  leads  to  misery  and 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  51 

vexation  of  spirit  on  both  sides;  they  neither  asked  for  nor  ex- 
pected alms;  all  they  want  is  a  little  help  from  the  owner  of 
the  manufactory  to  carry  on  their  work  more  satisfactorily, 
and  to  make  their  daily  existence  less  hard." 

The  old  lady  touched  him  lightly  on  the  arm  as  she  said,  in 
an  amiable  but  cold  tone,  hoping  to  end  the  discussion: 

"  You  are  a  decided  idealist,  Herr  Doctor." 

"  No,  no,  but  a  philanthropist  if  you  will,"  he  asserted  IL 
reply,  as  he  smiled  and  took  up  his  hat  to  depart. 

Flora  was  standing  with  her  back  toward  him,  apparently 
gazing  out  of  the  window,  but  no  woman's  full  face  could  have 
expressed  stronger  anger  and  annoyance  than  did  the  profile 
of  her  firmly  compressed  lips  and  dilated  nostril  That  the 
doctor  had  been  daring  enough  to  openly  assert  that  she 
gathered  her  ideas,  or  rather  wrote  her  articles,  from  the  con- 
tents of  other  papers,  was  simply  unbearable.  She,  with  her 
great  gifts!  But  to  suggest  that  it  was  part  of  her  duty  to  look 
personally  into  the  cause  and  wherefore  of  these  demands; 
she,  who  had  never  put  foot  over  the  threshold  of  her  brother- 
in-law's  factory,  and  to  find  out  for  herself  why  she  urged  with 
her  pen  reform — really  is  too  wanting  in  tact  altogether!  Be- 
sides, if  it  was  necessary  to  personally  inspect  the  truth  before 
describing  it,  what  was  the  use  of  being  endowed  with  imagi- 
nation and  genius?  Absurd!  Her  lover  had  never,  before  to- 
day, made  any  mention  of  her  literary  talents,  from  "  shyness 
and  admiration  "  she  had  hitherto  believed,  and  now  he  sud- 
denly condemns  her  work  in  round,  plain  terms,  and — he  !  it 
is  too  much. 

"  Grandmamma!"  she  exclaimed,  with  heightened  color 
and  knitted  brows,  "  I  don't  understand  your  making  use  of 
the  term  *  Idealist!'  It  seems  to  me  that  Doctor  Bruck  has 
expressed  himself  very  plainly  on  the  subject.  According  to 
him,  we  ought  to  give  up  comfort  and  luxury  and  go  about  in 
sackcloth  and  ashes;  and,  instead  of  cultivating  our  talents, 
cook  soup  for  the  peasants.  It  seems,  too,  that  it  is  a  sin  to 
prefer  the  quiet  and  seclusion  of  our  park,  and  that  we  ought 
to  enjoy  a  pack  of  workmen's  children  hallooing  and  scream- 
ing under  our  windows,  and  if  you  are  not  good  and  submis- 
sive to  his  dictates,  behold  a  specter  is  placed  at  our  door  to 
frighten  us!"  then,  catching  her  breath,  she  added:  "Be- 
sides, a  philanthropist  ought  to  act  as  well  as  teach.  If  things 
come  to  the  pass  he  hints  at,  the  specter  will  do  with  him  as 
he  would  with  us." 

"  I  have  not  much  to  lose,"  said  the  doctor,  smiling. 


52  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Flora  hurried  a  few  steps  forward,  her  jacket  hanging  half 
on  the  floor. 

"  You  can't  say  that  now/'  she  answered,  cuttingly. 
"  Moriz  tells  me  that  to-day  you  take  possession  of  some  prop- 
erty you  have  bought.  Is  it  really  true  that  you  have  carried 
out  your  threat  of  yesterday,  and  purchased  that  wretched  old 
ruin  over  the  river. " 

"My  threat?" 

"  Well,  what  else  can  I  call  it?  You  said  yesterday  that  if 
you  bought  this  place,  which  to  me  is  the  ne  plus  ultra  of 
wretchedness,  poverty,  and  hideousness,  that  it  would  take  all 
your  savings,  and  you  have  purchased  it.  You  can't  possibly 
have  bought  it  for  its  beauty  alone,  and  that  is  why  I  ask  you 
seriously  who  is  going  to  live  there?" 

"  You  have  no  need  to  put  a  foot  in  it." 

"  Of  course  I  sha'n't;  of  that  you  may  be  quite  certain.  I 
would  rather — " 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  young  doctor's  look  as 
he  raised  his  hand  to  stop  whatever  was  about  to  follow,  but  it 
was  sufficient  for  the  purpose,  and  the  rosy  lips  close  in  obedi- 
ence to  his  strong  will. 

After  a  moment's  hesitation  he  said,  quietly,  as  if  it  were  a 
matter  of  perfect  indifference  to  him  and  his  betrothed  also: 

"  I  intend  my  aunt  to  live  in  the  little  house,  merely  reserv- 
ing to  myself  a  room  where  I  can  pass  a  few  hours  at  my  lei- 
sure during  the  summer  months." 

"  Hope  you  will  enjoy  it!  a  special  summer  residence!  And 
in  winter — then?" 

"  In  winter?  Then  I  shall  be  content  with  the  room  that 
you  decided  upon  for  me  in  our  married  home. " 

"Oh!  but — I  don't  care  about  the  house  you  refer  to.  It 
stands  at  a  corner  of  the  street,  and  the  noisy  rolling  of  the 
carts  and  carriages  will  be  insufferable  when  I  am  working." 

"  Very  well,  then,  I  will  give  it  up  and  look  for  another 
more  suitable,"  he  replied,  with  unmoved  equanimity. 

Flora  turned  away  shrugging  her  shoulders,  and  with  an  ex- 
pression of  annoyance  clouding  her  beautiful  face  that  made 
Kathe  fancy  she  would  like  to  stamp  her  foot  if  she  dared;  as 
it  was,  she  threw  back  her  head,  and  her  eyes  flashed  fire  as 
she  muttered,  between  her  teeth: 

"  Will  he  ever  understand?" 

Just  at  this  moment  Mme.  TJrach  rang  the  bell  so  violently 
4iat  the  unusually  loud  clanging  was  heard  on  the  other  side 
of  the  house. 

The  old  lady  seemed  angry  and  distressed  that  her  grand- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  53 

daughter  had  so  little  tact  as  to  discuss  this  painful  question 
with  her  lover  in  the  presence  of  a  stranger;  and  to  put  an 
end  to  the  unwelcome  topic,  she  said  to  Kathe: 

"  You  will  receive  a  strange  impression  of  the  good  feeling 
and  hospitality  of  our  household,  my  dear.  You  have  not 
been  asked  to  take  off  your  jacket  or  to  sit  down  after  your 
•journey,  and  have  been  obliged,  whether  you  will  or  not,  to 
tisten  to  discussion  on  a  matter  that  can  not  possibly  interest 
you;  standing  too  on  the  cold  marble  floor,  instead  of  being 
taken  care  of." 

Then,  when  a  footman  appeared  in  answer  to  her  ring,  she 
ordered  him  to  tell  the  housekeeper  at  once  to  prepare  one  of 
the  guest  chambers  for  the  young  lady's  use. 

While  these  orders  were  being  given  the  counselor  helped 
Kathe  take  off  her  heavy  fur  mantle,  and  drew  up  a  chair  for 
her  to  sit  on,  and  Henriette  left  the  winter  garden  with  a  deep 
spot  of  red  on  each  cheek  and  the  tears  in  her  eyes. 

"  Won't  you  stay  and  have  tea  with  us?"  asked  the  old  lady, 
as  Dr.  Bruck  bowed  low  before  her  in  token  of  his  departure. 

"  No,  thank  you,  not  to-day.  I  have  two  or  three  patients 
I  must  see, "  he  replied,  courteously,  not  noticing  the  sarcastic 
curl  of  Flora's  lip  as  he  uttered  the  words;  then  he  shook 
hands  with  her  and  Moriz,  and  bowing  ceremoniously  to  Kathe 
as  he  had  done  to  the  old  lady,  he  left  the  room. 

"  Flora,"  said  Mme.  Urach,  in  a  sweet  tone,  as  soon  as  the 
door  was  closed  on  the  doctor's  retreating  figure,  "  I  must  beg 
that  for  the  future  you  will  avoid  the  repetition  of  such  scenes 
as  we  have  just  had  to  witness.  You  have  elected  to  be  free, 
or  rather  to  act  as  you  think  best — good.  Up  to  the  present 
time  I  have  not  interfered  with  you  in  the  slightest  degree;  but 
I  will  not  allow  you  to  act  as  you  have  just  thought  fit  to  do 
in  my  presence — I  absolutely  forbid  it!  Must  I  repeat  what — " 

"  No,  no,  don't  repeat  anything,  dear  grandmamma!"  in- 
terrupted Flora,  rudely.  "  It  all  comes  to  the  same  thing  and 
signifies  simply  that  it  does  not  matter  what  happens  in  the 
house  provided  that  Frau  Prasidentin  Urach's  conduct  is  not 
in  fault!  Pardon  me,  grandmamma;  I  will  not  offend  again. 
The  house  is  large  enough,  and  one  is  not  obliged  always  to 
cross  your  orbit.  Ah,  how  I  wish  things  were  not  so  hard  for 
me!  Sometimes  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  lose  patience,  and — " 

"  Flora!"  exclaimed  the  counselor,  in  a  tone  of  entreaty  and 
warning. 

"  Ah,  yes,  of  course,  Herr  von*  Romer!    I  must  not  forget 

*  Von  is  a  title  of  nobility  in  Germany. 


54  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

the  position  due  to  your  new  rank!  Good  heavens!  how  every- 
thing seems  to  weigh  on  my  shoulders!  But  why  do  I  merit 
this  visitation  because  hearts  attach  themselves  to  me  like — 
like  burrs?" 

She  picked  up  her  hat  and  gathered  her  skirts  together  to 
leave  the  room,  but  Kathe  stood  in  her  way. 

"  You  see  what  happens  to  us  unfortunate  single  women, 
my  dear;  if,  in  a  weak  moment,  we  yield  to  sentiment  and  im- 
agine ourselves  in  love/'  she  remarked  to  her  younger  sister, 
laying  her  hand  playfully  under  her  chin,  "  we  only  come  to 
grief.  Take  warning  by  me,  child,  and  look  well  that  you 
don't  follow  my  example!" 

And  before  Kathe  could  reply,  she  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CLOSE  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  park  stood  the  re- 
mains of  a  noble  edifice,  the  Baumgarten  Manor  House.  Of 
the  grand  old  castle  with  its  draw-bridge  and  moat  nothing 
now  remained  but  one  turreted  chamber  of  huge  dimensions 
and  a  portion  of  one  of  the  wings,  for  the  building  itself  had 
been  demolished  some  sixty  years  before.  The  proprietor  at 
that  time,  who  lived  most  of  the  year  abroad,  had  had  the 
Manor  House  rebuilt  with  the  same  blocks  of  granite,  but  in 
the  villa  style,  and  placed  at  the  extreme  corner  of  the  estate, 
in  order,  as  he  said,  "  to  be  within  sight  of  his  fellow-beings," 
whenever  he  passed  a  few  weeks  in  his  own  country. 

But  the  tower  and  its  adjacent  broken-down  walls  had  not 
been  disturbed,  and  were  respected  as  forming  an  attract- 
ive monument  enhancing  the  value  of  the  property.  This 
tower  arose  on  the  summit  of  a  rising  piece  of  ground  with 
masses  of  tangled  brushwood  growing  in  rich  profusion  around 
its  base,  while  from  its  grand  old  window  niches  and  dilapi- 
dated walls  hung  festoons  of  clustering  wild  roses  intermixed 
with  the  wild  gooseberry-tree.  The  creeping  hop-plant  clung 
in  beautiful  green  contrast  against  the  dark,  time-worn  stones 
of  its  portals  and  broken-down  supports. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  present  generation  the  old  ruin,  sur- 
rounded with  its  deep  natural  moat,  had  admirably  answered 
its  purpose  as  a  landmark  in  the  neighborhood;  but  when  it 
fell  into  the  hands  of  its  late  owner  it  was  turned  to  a  much 
more  practical  use.  The  water  had  been  drained  from  the 
moat,  and  a  quantity  of  vegetables  planted  in  the  rich  soil  of 
its  bed  and  sides.  According  to  the  late  miller,  this  was  the 
most  profitable  return  he  had  yet  had  for  the  money  he  had 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  55 

spent  in  the  purchase  of  this  corner  of  the  park,  and  the  result 
of  this  new  plan  had  so  pleased  him  that  he  gave  orders  that 
the  produce  of  this  portion  of  the  ground  was  to  be  devoted  to 
his  own  personal  requirements.  Here  it  was  that  Kathe,  who 
called  the  place  the  "  little  valley,"  used  to  wander  about  as 
a  child,  too  young  to  understand  the  desecration  that  had  be- 
fallen the  noble  old  water-castle  and  its  surroundings,  and  while 
reveling  in  the  rich  abundance  of  ripe  wild  strawberries,  which 
grew  larger  and  riper  here  than  anywhei'e  else,  in  happy  igno- 
rance that  at  any  moment  some  sudden  breach  in  the  river  em- 
bankment might  overwhelm  her  and  Susanne  and  the  whole  of 
the  green  valley  around  them  with  rushing  angry  floods  of 
water. 

A  few  days  after  her  arrival  she  visited  for  the  first  time  the 
old  familiar  spot,  and  stood  gazing  in  bewilderment  at  the 
scene  before  her.  The  hop-plants  hung  leafless,  not  a  vestige 
of  green  grass  was  to  be  seen  on  the  rising  ground,  yet  the 
April  sun  shone  warm  and  bright  on  the  massive  old  ruin, 
lighting  it  up  in  strong  relief  against  the  dark  mass  of  fir-trees 
in  the  distant  background. 

Not  a  trace  of  fresh  mortar  could  be  discovered  on  the  old 
walls,  not  one  new  stone  could  be  singled  out  from  the  old 
ones  around.  Yet  there  was  no  gap  or  broken  partition,  such 
as  Kathe  so  well  remembered  used  to  be  there  when  she  was  a 
child;  the  only  open  places  were  the  huge  gaping  window- 
frames,  which  were  formerly  closed  in  with  planks  of  wood, 
but  which  now  streamed  with  light,  showing  the  dark  inward 
recesses  beyond.  New  fresh  life  seemed  to  reign  all  around 
the  place — overhead,  white  and  colored  pigeons  circled  round 
and  round  the  crown  of  the  tower,  and  from  beneath  a  group 
of  ancient  nut-trees  on  the  south  side  of  the  old  tower,  two 
tame  deer  came  slowly  scampering  over  the  soft  sward.  The 
little  valley  had  quite  disappeared,  and  in  its  place  a  broad 
sparkling  stream  flowed  rapidly  and  peacefully  along,  as  if 
man's  hand  had  never  had  any  power  over  its  course. 

A  bridge  suspended  by  chains  was  swung  across  the  stream, 
at  the  opposite  side  of  which  lay  an  enormous  bull-dog,  with 
his  head  resting  on  the  bank,  apparently  watching  with  keen 
interest  the  approaching  figures. 

"Behold  Moriz's  Tusculum,  Kathe!'*  said  Henriette,  catch- 
ing hold  of  her  arm;  "  once  upon  a  time  the  scene  of  many  an 
act  of  cruelty  and  baronial  magnificence,  only  a  few  months 
ago  the  undisputed  haunt  of  owls  and  bats  and  some  of  my 
pigeons,  but  now  the  drawing-room,  bed-chamber,  and  royal 
treasury  or  safe-room  of  the  noblo  Counselor  Herr  von  Bomer  > 


56  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Doesn't  the  old  place  look  dark  and  shaky,  and  as  if  the  very 
next  storm  of  wind  would  blow  it  to  the  earth?  yet  I  can  as- 
sure you  that  it  is  as  firm  and  solid  as  masons  and  builders  can 
make  it;  and  look  there,  in  a  room  beneath  that  overhanging 
stone  Moriz's  servant  lives,  and  good  quarters  he  has  too,  and 
no  mistake. " 

"  According  to  taste,  my  dear/'  remarked  Flora,  who  had 
accompanied  the  two  girls.  "  A  wonderfully  original  idea  for 
a  business  head;  don't  you  think  so,  Kathe?"  she  added, 
shrugging  her  shoulders  with  a  scornful  gesture  as  she  went 
forward,  and,  walking  across  the  little  bridge,  pushed  the  dog 
out  of  her  way  with  a  touch  of  her  foot  and  lauded  on  the 
other  side.  The  rustling  of  her  silk  dress  frightened  the  deer 
back  into  the  shade  of  the  nut-trees,  and  seemed  to  make  the 
dog  growl  as  he  followed  his  tyrannical  mistress  till  she  reached 
the  door  of  the  castle.  As  she  stood  at  the  entrance  to  this 
time-honored  building,  her  hand  resting  against  the  iron  but- 
tress, her  head  with  its  crown  of  golden  plaits  slightly  thrown 
back  over  her  shoulder,  her  rich  silk  dress  hanging  in  grace- 
ful folds  around  her,  she  might  have  been  painted  as  the  lovely 
daughter  of  a  captive  emperor,  about  to  seek  her  father  in  his 
turreted  prison. 

Involuntarily  Kathe  glanced  from  Flora's  handsome,  well- 
rounded  figure  to  the  frail  being  at  her  side,  whose  sharp  at- 
tenuated form  and  pale,  suffering  face  made  her  heart  ache  to 
watch.  The  poor  girl  breathed  with  difficulty,  and  her  com- 
plexion was  so  sallow  it  did  not  require  a  very  quick  observer 
to  note  that  she  was  weaker  than  usual  from  excessive  physical 
pain.  And  yet  Henriette  would  not  acknowledge  herself  worse 
than  usual  the  last  day  or  two,  and  each  time  any  one  of  the 
household  suggested  that  she  must  be  suffering,  she  seemed  so 
angry  and  annoyed  that  it  was  generally  considered  it  would 
be  the  kindest  thing  to  leave  her  alone. 

•The  truth  was,  Dr.  Bruck  had  been  suddenly  called  away  to 
visit  a  patient  at  a  distance,  and  would  be  "  absent  for  several 
days,"  he  had  informed  Flora  in  a  note  hastily  written  before 
his  departure,  and  as  he  had  always  been  able  to  alleviate 
Henriette's  attacks  sooner  than  any  other  doctor,  she  would 
not  allow  herself  to  be  attended  by  even  the  famous  court 
physician,  Dr.  von  Bar,  during  his  absence. 

"  I  will  die  sooner!"  she  exclaimed,  when  urged  to  allow 
him  to  prescribe  for  her,  and  the  energy  with  which  she  ut- 
tered this  sentence  so  exhausted  her  that  she  was  left  in  peace 
and  urged  no  more. 

For  several  days  Kathe  nursed  her  tenderly  and  gently,  and 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  57 

when  she  was  able  to  be  out  in  the  open  air  again  guided  her 
faltering  steps  with  her  strong  and  healthy  young  arms — as 
she  was  doing  now  while  leading  her  slowly  across  the  hanging 
bridge. 

How  well  Kathe  remembered  peering  through  the  key-hole 
of  this  same  iron  door  when  she  roamed  about  the  town  as  a 
little  girl !  She  had  been  told  that  a  quantity  of  gunpowder 
was  hidden  in  the  dark  cellars,  which  might  blow  up  at  any 
moment,  and  that  ugly  cruel  instruments  for  torturing  people 
still  hung  on  the  walls. 

She  had  been  able  to  discern  nothing  but  black  darkness, 
but  nevertheless  she  had  many  a  time  trembled  with  fear  when 
a  gust  of  strong  wind  had  swept  a  damp  current  of  air  against 
her  face  as  she  pressed  it  to  the  ancient  lock,  and  if  an  owl  flew 
from  its  hiding-place  she  would  rush  back  to  Susaune  in  vague 
terror  that  some  of  "  those  ugly  things  were  coming  out  of  the 
darkness  to  take  hold  of  her."  And  yet,  in  spite  of  her 
childish  fear,  the  old  place  had  a  wonderful  attraction  and 
charm  for  the  lonely  little  girl,  for  many  of  the  happiest  days 
of  her  early  years  were  spent  in  roaming  about  under  the 
brushwood  and  trees  which  had  overgrown  its  walls. 

Now,  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  she  stood  within  its  por- 
tals, and  could  not  help  being  astonished  at  the  wonder-work- 
ing power  of  this  rich  merchant  prince's  gold.  Outside,  the 
tower  looked  as  if  it  were  an  old  ruin,  but  inside  it  was  a  su- 
perbly decorated  knightly  residence.  A  grand  vaulted  arch 
stretched  from  one  side  of  the  hall  to  the  other,  supported  by 
stone  buttresses  of  magnificent  proportions.  On  the  walls 
those  "  ugly,  cruel  things  "  still  hung — weapons  and  helmets 
of  rare  and  costly  workmanship — but  arranged  with  taste  and 
in  order,  and  with  the  slanting  sun-rays  glittering  on  then* 
burnished  steel  with  strange  and  weird  effect. 

Presently  the  two  young  girls  slowly  mounted  the  handsome 
staircase  and  entered  a  room  on  the  upper  story.  Here  they 
found  Flora  gracefully  leaning  back  on  the  velvet  cushions  of 
an  easy-chair  with  a  lighted  cigarette  between  her  fingers, 
watching  her  brother-in-law  making  coffee  in  an  elegant  silver 
cafe  tie  re. 

"Well,  Kathe!  what  do  you  think  of  it?"  exclaimed  the 
counselor,  as  the  girls  appeared,  and  he  waved  his  hand  around 
the  room  to  intimate  that  he  referred  to  the  costly  new  furni- 
ture. 

Kathe  stood  still  for  a  moment  on  the  threshold  of  the  door, 
a  black  veil  loosely  thrown  over  her  golden-brown  hair,  her 
clear  laughing  eyes  full  of  merriment,  and  yet  with  a  certain 


58  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

haughty  glance  in  them  that  just  at  this  moment  made  her 
look  like  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  proud  old  family  to  whom 
the  place  had  formerly  belonged,  ere  answering,  gayly: 

"  Romantic  in  the  extreme,  Moriz!  The  illusion  is  per- 
fect. And  down  there,"  pointing  through  the  open  window 
at  her  left  to  the  shimmering  water  beneath,  "  down  thero 
one  might  be  startled  at  the  solemn  aspect  of  things,  if  one 
didn't  know  that  a  counselor  of  the  present  nineteenth  cen- 
tury sat  inside. " 

He  knit  his  brows  gloomily  together  and  glanced  uneasily  at 
her  face,  but  she  did  not  notice  the  look  as  she  went  on: 

"  It  was  neither  right  nor  praiseworthy  to  convert  the  old 
ground  into  a  vegetable  garden:  I  think  that,  although  I  loved 
the  place  very  dearly  in  my  childhood.  But  don't  you  think 
it  a  strange  freak  of  fortune  that  the  merchant  of  to-day 
should  renew  the  lists  deserted  and  neglected  by  the  high-born 
knights  of  old?" 

"  You  must  not  forget,  my  dear  Kathe,  that  /  belong  now 
to  the  rank  of  knights,"  replied  the  counselor,  in  a  piqued 
tone.  "  The  way  the  old  nobles  conformed  to  the  spirit  of 
the  times,  and  allowed  their  grand  buildings  to  fall  into  decay 
and  ruin,  is  certainly  sadly  to  be  deplored.  It  was  a  decided 
robbery  against  us  who  come  after." 

"  Simpleton! — more  Catholic  than  the  pope  himself!"  mur- 
mured Henriette,  under  her  breath,  as  she  moved  slowly  to- 
ward a  sofa  on  which  she  sat  down,  while  Kathe  mechanically 
shut  the  door,  still  regarding  her  annoyed  brother-in-law  with 
the  thoughtful  questioning  gaze  which  his  remark  had  brought 
into  her  eyes. 

•  Kathe  could  remember  how  fond  she  had  been  of  him  when 
a  child,  as  were  all  those  who  came  under  his  influence.  She 
knew  that  he  belonged  to  a  respectable  mechanic's  family, 
that  he  had  been  early  left  an  orphan,  and  that  owing  to  his 
good  looks  and  pleasing  manners,  her  father,  the  renowned 
banker  Mangold,  had  taken  him  into  his  office  as  a  junior 
clerk,  and  that  a  few  years  later  he  married  his  patron's  eldest 
daughter  Clothilda.  By  means  of  his  wife,  who  up  to  the 
time  of  her  death  was  always  obedient  and  pliant  to  his  wishes 
and  had  great  influence  over  her  father,  he  succeeded  in  rising 
step  by  step  in  the  bank  till  he  reached  an  office  of  responsi- 
bility and  power,  and  was  universally  loved  and  respected  for 
his  unswerving  kindness  and  graciousness  to  those  in  a  sub- 
ordinate position.  And  yet  this  was  the  man  who  stood 
moodily  by  the  table  just  now  with  an  expression  of  haughty 
defiance  hovering  around  his  handsome,  well-curved  mouth, 


Or  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  59 

and  an  angry  flash  in  his  eye  at  the  careless  words  of  an  in» 
valid  girl. 

"  Don't,  for  goodness*  sake,  utter  treason  against  the  ancient 
masters  of  this  stronghold,  dear  Moriz, "  said  Henriette,  sharp- 
ly, ' '  otherwise  I  shall  expect  to  see  the  ghost  of  one  of  then) 
rising  up  before  us  to  see  how  the  brave  and  powerful  present 
owner  of  the  castle  makes  coffee,  and  to  watch  the  charming 
lady  over  there  smoke  a  cigarette;  how  wide  he  would  open 
his  eyes  with  astonishment!" 

Flora  did  not  stir  at  this  malicious  attack;  she  merely  slowly 
removed  the  cigarette  from  between  her  lips,  and,  while  she 
knocked  the  ashes  away,  said,  in  a  phlegmatic  tone: 

"  Does  it  distress  you?" 

"Me!"  and  the  girl  laughed  aloud.  "  You  know,  Flora, 
that  I  never  allow  myself  to  be  distressed  at  any  of  your 
vagaries;  the  world  is  wide,  and  if — " 

"  Nonsense!  don't  be  bitter,  little  one.  I  asked  simply  be- 
cause I  know  you  breathed  with  difficulty  to-day. " 

A  flush  passed  over  the  thin,  emaciated  face,  leaving  it  paler 
by  contrast  than  before,  and  the  tears  sprung  to  her  eyes  as 
she  replied,  with  an  effort: 

"Thank  you;  but  you  had  better  take  care  of  yourself, 
Flora.  I  know  that  each  of  your  fingers  is  longing  to  pitch 
that  sickly  thing  out  of  the  window;  for  it  will  discolor  your 
pearly-white  teeth  as  it  does  meerschaum,  and  spoil  your  love- 
ly complexion.  And  you  sacrifice  your  sweet  beauty  without 
mercy — what  for?  To  prove  your  independence.  Bah!  I  am 
sure  you  have  more  taste  than  to  stoop  to  the  common  artifices 
of  a  would-be  blue-stocking;  and  as  there  is  no  need  for  a 
sacrifice  on  your  part  to  give  up  the  glory  of  this  hateful — "  • 

"Only  listen  to  the  good  opinion  she  has  of  me!"  inter- 
rupted Flora,  in  a  mocking  tone,  shaking  her  head  as  she  acU 
dressed  the  counselor. 

"  You  will  make  yourself  ill  for  a  week,"  continued  Hen- 
riette, quietly,  but  with  a  ring  of  bitter  reproach  in  her  voice, 
"  simply  because  you  know  who  dislikes  and  abhors  the  smell 
of  tobacco  from  a  woman's  mouth.  You  do  it  on  purpose  to 
cause  a  quarrel — it  is  your  last  hope  of  pushing  things  to — " 

Flora  half  rose  from  her  seat,  and  demanded,  proudly: 

"Well!  and  what  then?  Is  it  not  my  affair  whether  I 
choose  to  submit  or  rebel?" 

"  Far  from  it!  "  Your  duty  is  to  try  and  please  him,"  Hen- 
riette burted  out,  angrily. 

"Absurd!     Is  the  wedding-ring  there  yet?"  asked  Flora» 


$0  or  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE: 

pointing  to  the  third  finger  of  her  soft,  white  hand.*  "  Thank 
God,  not  yet !  Besides,  you  have  no  business  to  interfere  and 
to  be  angry  about  my  affairs  at  all.  But  you  are  ill  and  suffer- 
ing, poor  child!  and  seem  more  than  ever  to  cling  to  your 
favorite  doctor,  while  he  thinks  fit  to  be  absent  for  ten  days  or 
a  fortnight  on  a  pleasurable  excursion,  instead  of  attending  to 
his  patients." 

"  You  say  that,  Flora/'  interposed  the  counselor,  "because 
he  did  not  explain  in  detail  the  cause  of  his  absence.  Bruck 
rarely  speaks  of  his  patients  and  their  requirements,"  he  add- 
ed, severely;  "  that  you  know.  Of  course,  he  has  been  called 
away  to  the  sick-bed  of  some — " 

"  What,  to  S g,  where  the  most  famous  of  the  university 

physicians  are  within  reach?  Nonsense!  Don't  indulge  in 
any  such  absurd  illusions,  my  dear  Moriz.  Besides,  I  prefer 
not  discussing  the  question  with  you — enough!" 

And  stretching  forth  her  hand,  she  took  up  one  of  the  ex- 
quisite cups  of  porcelain  he  had  just  filled  with  fragrant  coffee, 
and,  adding  cream  and  sugar,  drank  it  off  feverishly. 

Henriette  refused  the  cup  offered  her  by  the  counselor,  and 
moved  over  to  the  glass  door  leading  to  a  balcony  formed  by 
the  end  columns  of  what  had  once  been  a  handsome  colonnade. 

The  girl  opened  the  door,  and  for  a  moment  the  fresh  air 
•jeemed  to  relieve  the  oppression  at  her  chest;  then  she  clasped 
her  hands  together  and  uttered  an  involuntary  groan  of  pain, 
which  brought  Kathe  and  the  counselor  to  her  side.  Even 
Flora  rose  from  her  recumbent  position,  and,  flinging  her 
cigarette  into  the  ash-pan,  said,  grumblingly: 

"  I  know  very  well  that  my  harmless  little  indulgence  will 
be  held  responsible  for  this;  but  it  is  not  in  fault  at  all.  You 
ought  to  be  in  bed,  Henriette,  and  not  exposed  to  this  keen 
spring  air,  which  is  killing  in  its  effect  on  weak  constitutions 
like  yours.  I  told  you  not  to  come — warned  you  against  going 
out  at  all;  but  you  won't  listen  to  any  kindly  meant  advice, 
and  act  as  if  your  lungs  were  as  strong  as  a  trumpet.  And 
you  are  just  as  obstinate  about  having  medical  advice — 

"  Because  I  don't  choose  to  put  my  weak  chest  at  the  mercy 
of  the  first  quack  who  appears,"  broke  in  Henriette,  in  an  ex- 
hausted but  very  decided  tone. 

"  What  would  the  poor  old  court  physician  say  if  he  heard 
you?"  replied  Flora,  laughing.  "  I  don't  care,  child — do  as 
you  like.  I,  too,  have  no  liking  for  swallowing  his  mixtures; 

*  The  Germans  wear  the  wedding-  ring  on  the  riglif  hand 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  61 

but  at  least  of  this  I  am  sure,  that  he  never  made  the  mistake 
of — nearly  cutting  a  patient's  throat  while  operating  on  him. " 

The  counselor  turned  pale  to  the  lips,  and  involuntarily 
raised  his  hand,  as  if  he  would  like  to  press  it  on  the  lips  of 
the  slanderous  girl,  and  oblige  them  to  be  silent.  He  had  no 
^ower  to  speak;  but  he  gazed  anxiously  into  Kathe's  face,  as 
if  to  read  there  the  effects  of  this  unkind  speech. 

"  You  are  a  heartless  girl,"  blurted  out  Henriette. 

"  I  am  not  heartless;  only  brave  enough  to  call  things  by 
their  right  names,  even  when  in  doing  so  I  hurt  myself  most. 
I  knew  that  a  downfall  must  follow  such  falsely  dreamed  re- 
nown; it  did  come,  only  in  a  far  more  damaging  way  than  I 
had  feared.  Besides,  it  is  of  no  use  to  dispute  public  opinion; 
and  in  this  case  you  know  very  well  how  bitterly  it  condemns 
him.  But  I  think  that  all  who  know  me  will  understand  that 
I  have  no  intention  of  sharing  the  burden  of  such  a  fall.  I 
can  not  palliate  or  hush  up  things,  as  grandmamma  would 
wish  to  do.  I'll  do  nothing  of  the  kind — I  hate  it.  Nothing 
seems  to  me  so  ridiculous  as  for  a  woman  to  go  on  worshiping 
and  adoring  a  man  whom  the  world  condemns,  and  who  has 
nothing  left  in  him  to  adore. " 

She  hastily  flung  open  the  other  half  of  the  glass  door,  and 
stepped  out  on  the  balcony.  She  had  spoken  with  passionate 
earnestness,  her  eyes  flashing,  her  nostrils  quivering,  her  whole 
figure  trembling  with  the  emotion  within  her. 

"  Besides,  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  make  me  think  differ- 
ently; and  if  he  had  convinced  me,  how  I  would  have  defended 
him  by  word  of  mouth  and  my  pen!"  she  went  on,  twisting 
her  slender  fingers  round  the  hanging  creepers.  "But  he 
preferred  answering  my  first  and  only  question  on  the  subject 
by  an  icy  glance  that  would  have  become  a  proud  Spaniard — " 

"  That  ought  to  have  satisfied  you." 

"  Not  at  all,  my  dear  Moriz.  I  think  it  was  a  good  way  of 
avoiding  a  direct  answer.  I  am  skeptical  about  glances  and 
gestures;  I  expect  something  more  tangible.  However,  to 
show  you  that  I  am  not  as  bad  as  you  think,  I  will  do  no\7 
what  I  longed  to  do  at  first,  and  that  is  ask  you  to  prove  to  me 
and  to  the  world  that  he  is  innocent — that  he  did  his  duty;  you 
were  there,  Moriz!" 

He  started  back  suddenly  from  the  threshold  of  the  balcony 
as  if  he  had  been  shot,  and  laid  his  hand  across  his  brow  to 
shield  his  eyes  from  the  glare  of  light  as  he  replied,  in  a  scarcely 
audible  tone  of  voice : 

"  You  know  that  what  you  ask  is  not  in  my  power  to  da 
I  am  no  loctor. " 


68  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"That  is  enough,  Moriz;  not  another  word!"  cried  Henri- 
ette,  trembling,  with  the  color  coming  and  going  on  her  cheek 
as  if  she  had  fever.  "  Each  attempt  at  defense  that  you  make 
when  this  charmingly  affectionate  bride-elect  appears  anxious 
to  have  things  put  right,  strikes  me  as  weak  and  irresolute," 
and  her  bright  burning  eyes  glanced  with  anger  and  hatred  on 
her  sister's  beautiful  face.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  cruel 
way  you  treat  that  man,  Flora,  will  bring  matters  to  an  end, 
and  pretty  soon,  too,  or  rather — and  the  truth  may  as  well  be 
spoken  for  once — that  he  will  of  himself  withdraw  his  claim  to 
your  hand  as  you  wish  him  to  do.  He  will  lose  nothing  by 
giving  you  up,  you  heartless  girl;  but,  unfortunately  for  him, 
he  loves  you,  and  would  rather,  I  believe,  marry  you  and  be 
unhappy  all  his  life  than  give  you  up;  he  is  so  very  blind. " 

"  What  a  great  pity/'  Flora  remarked  from  over  her 
shoulder. 

"  And  for  that  very  reason  I'll  do  all  I  can  to  open  his 
eyes,"  added  Henrietta,  with  trembling  lips  and  a  broken 
voice. 

The  amused  side  glance  which  Flora  cast  on  her  excited  and 
angry  younger  sister  was  fast  deepening  into  a  sarcastic  curl  of 
her  mouth;  when  a  sudden  thought  seemed  to  change  the 
whole  expression  of  her  face.  Stooping  slightly  forward  she 
laid  her  arm  round  the  girl's  ill-grown  figure,  and  whispered 
in  her  ear,  with  a  sardonic  smile: 

"  Make  him  happy  yourself,  little  one.  /  won't  put  any 
opposition  in  your  way,  of  that  you  may  be  quite  sure!" 

To  what  degree  of  petty  arrogance  will  not  a  woman  stoop 
to  avenge  her  fancied  wrongs  on  one  of  her  own  sex!  Kathe 
stood  near  enough  to  the  sisters  to  hear  the  hissed  whisper,  and 
although  she  made  no  remark,  her  eyes  flashed  the  scorn  and 
contempt  she  felt. 

Flora  looked  up  and  caught  the  expression. 

"  Why,  what  a  face  you  are  making,  child!  can't  you  under- 
stand a  bit  of  fun?"  she  said,  half  amused,  half  perplexed. 
"  I  am  not  doing  your  nursling  any  harm,  although  I  have 
full  right  to  put  an  end,  if  I  chose,  to  Heuriette's  malicious 
remarks.  These  two  people,  you  must  know,"  and  she  point- 
ed to  the  counselor  and  Henriette,  "  have  taken  it  into  their 
heads  that  they  must  keep  watch  on  my  morals;  and  you, 
just  fresh  from  school,  only  just  free  yourself  from  rules  and 
regulations,  must  needs  aid  and  abet  them  against  me.  You 
are  a  little  donkey  if  you  think  I  shall  care  for  your  verdict 
against  me!" 

She  laughed  merrily  as  she  finished,  and  leaning  over  the 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  63 

balcony  shook  a  branch  of  one  of  the  nut-trees,  causing  a 
pigeon  which  had  settled  there  to  fly  upward  in  the  glistening 
air. 

"  Kathe,  look  at  her!  a  moment  ago  she  was  resting  on  the 
branch  by  the  side  of  her  companions,  but  now  she  has  spread 
her  silver  wings  and  mounted  high  above  our  heads,  and  from 
her  proud  position  in  the  lonely  heavens  appears  very  inde 
pendent  to  eyes  looking  at  her  from  below.  Perhaps  you  will 
understand  something  of  what  I  mean.  Apropos,  Moriz,"  she 
said,  suddenly  interrupting  herself  and  beckoning  to  him  to 
come  out  again  on  the  balcony,  "  Doctor  Bruck's  new  prop- 
erty must  lie  down  behind  that  copse,  that  wretched  old  place 
he  has  just  bought;  I  can  see  smoke  curling  above  the  trees." 

"  Because  fire  is  burning  in  the  stove,  I  have  no  doubt/' 
said  the  counselor,  gayly;  "  his  aunt  arrived  yesterday." 

"  What,  in  that  neglected  old  place?" 

"  Yes.  But  then  the  late  castle  miller  was  far  too  sensible 
a  landlord  to  let  his  property  go  to  ruin.  The  place  is  in 
first-rate  repair;  not  a  nail  is  wanting  to  the  floors,  or  a  tile 
out  of  place  on  the  roof." 

"  Hope  she  will  enjoy  it!  For  her  the  place  is  not  so  bad — 
her  old-fashioned  furniture  and  the  picture  of  her  deceased 
husband  will  correspond  with  those  walls,  and  she  will  have 
plenty  of  space  in  which  to  preserve  and  bake  to  her  heart's 
content — and  there  is  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  water  for  her 
scouring." 

And  Flora  shuddered  and  pretended  to  be  cold,  and  drew 
around  her  the  costly  shawl  which  had  fallen  from  her  shoul- 
ders, and  gathered  her  skirts  from  the  floor,  as  if  she  had  been 
suddenly  obliged  to  stand  in  a  freshly  scoured  room.  "  Let 
us  shut  the  doors,"  she  said,  quitting  the  balcony  and  entering 
the  room;  "  the  wind  brings  the  smoke  and  damp  this  way — 
Bah!"  she  added,  waving  her  fine  handkerchief  before  her  face 
and  dilating  her  nostrils;  "  I  believe  the  good  woman  is  cook- 
ing pancakes  now,  though  I  don't  suppose  she  has  a  chair  to 
sit  down  on  in  the  house — she  must  always  be  at  something  in 
the  kitchen."  And  so  saying  Flora  shut  the  doors. 

Meanwhile  Henriette  had  left  the  room — Flora's  whisper 
had  shocked  her  terribly,  and  made  her  feel  as  if  she  had 
suddenly  awoke  from  a  troubled  sleep  to  find  herself  on  the 
edge  of  a  dangerous  precipice.  She  did  not  answer,  but  her 
pale  cheeks  grew  white  as  marble,  and  presentlyx  unnoticed 
by  Flora,  she  rose  from  her  seat  and  crept  slowly  away  up  to 
the  highest  garret  in  the  tower,  where  only  the  doves  and  the 


64  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  nousi:. 

jackdavs  had  their  haunt,  and  where  the  poor  girl  knew  that 
she  would  be  alone  for  a  time. 

When  she  was  gone  Kathe  also  took  up  her  parasol,  and 
moved  toward  the  door.  She  felt  instinctively  that  Henriette 
would  like  to  be  alone,  so  she  did  not  think  of  following  her; 
but  the  richly  furnished  room,  with  its  subtle  pref ume  of  exotic 
flowers,  and  Flora's  restless,  capricious  movements,  made  her 
long  to  be  out  in  the  open  air,  and  she  announced  her  depart- 
ure by  saying  that  she  was  going  to  pay  Susanne  a  visit  at  the 
mill. 

"  But  why  in  such  a  hurry?"  asked  the  counselor;  "  you 
can  see  Susanne  to-morrow." 

"  I  would  rather  go  to-day,"  she  replied. 

"  Well,  go,  then!  he  said,  angrily,  for  he  saw  that  she  was 
impatient  to  be  away.  "  But  first  look  here!"  He  drew  aside 
a  heavy  Gobelin  curtain,  behind  which,  in  a  deep  niche  in  the 
wall,  stood  a  new  iron  safe. 

"  That  belongs  to  you,  Kathe/'  he  said,  in  a  softer  tone; 
"  that  is  your  '  Tree,  little  tree,  each  time  I  shake  thee,  shower 
down  gold  and  silver  on  me/  "  and  he  touched  the  safe  ca- 
ressingly. "  Everything  your  grandfather  possessed  in  house 
and  lands,  forest  and  meadows,  is  there  represented  on  paper. 
These  papers  are  busy  as  bees  working  day  and  night  in  your 
service.  They  are  pouring  streams  of  gold  to  all  parts  of  the 
world,  in  their  own  quiet  way.  Your  late  grandfather,  the 
miller,  made  good  use  of  his  time,  as  the  long  list  of  his 
possessions  in  his  will  amply  proved — but  even  he  had  no  idea 
of  the  vast  amount  of  money  their  sale  would  realize. " 

"  So  that  you,  Kathe,  are  by  a  long  way  the  richest  heiress 
in  the  country;  if  you  choose,  you  can  have  your  dining-room 
paved  with  thalers  on  your  wedding-day,  like  the  princess  in 
the  fairytale,"  exclaimed  Flora,  who  had  flung  herself  back  in 
a  luxurious  easy-chair  and  was  holding  a  book  in  her  hand. 
"  Great  pity  you  have  so  much  money,  child,  for  I  am  afraid 
that  you  have  not  been  brought  up  in  the  right  way  for  dis- 
playing your  wealth  advantageously  before  the  world." 

;'  We  must  wait  and  see,"  replied  the  young  girl,  merrily. 
"  Just  now  I  have  no  right  to  spend  one  thaler  of  all  my  fort- 
une as  I  like.  But  for  the  sake  of  the  castle  mill,  I  would 
give  anything  to  be  of  age,  and  use  a  little  of  the  gold  there,  if 
only  for  one  day,"  and  she  pointed  to  the  iron  safe  with  a 
sigh.  "  Does  it  inconvenience  you,  fair  lady?" 

"  My  mill?  no  more  than  my  young  life,  Moriz.  But  yes- 
terday I  was  talking  to  Franz  in  the  garden,  which  is  large  aixj 
extends  so  far  that  he  is  forced  to  leave  the  part  down  by  the 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  65 

road  uncultivated.  He  was  saying  that  he  means  to  suggest 
to  you  to  sell  that  bit,  as  it  would  be  a  splendid  site  for  a 
villa,  and  would  fetch  a  good  price;  but  I  think  that  we  have 
no  need  to  do  any  such  thing,  and — and  I  should  like  to  let 
jonie  of  your  men  have  it  to  build  cottages  on,  those  you  know 
who  want  to  be  near  your  spinning  manufactory  and — " 

"  Make  them  a  present  of  it,  Kathe?" 

"  That  I  didn't  mean  exactly,  and  you  need  not  snub  me  so 
sarcastically,  Moriz:  I  know  I  shall  be  accused  here  of  having 
sentimental  ideas  and  far-fetched  notions!  Besides,  the  work- 
men don't  ask  or  want  charity,  as  Doctor  Brack  says — " 

"As  Doctor  Brack  says,  indeed!  Has  he  already  become 
your  o ra.de,  Kathe?"  cried  Flora,  springing  up  from  her  seat, 
dashing  down  her  book,  and  fixing  her  eyes  questioningly  on 
her  young  half-sister's  face. 

The  earnest  gaze  made  Kathe  blush  for  a  second;  but  meet- 
ing her  eyes  with  a  cold,  indifferent  expression  shining  out  of 
her  own  clear,  truthful  orbs,  Kathe  went  on  earnestly,  with- 
out noticing  Flora's  interruption: 

"  I  know  the  value  of  self -earned  reward — how  much  dearer 
it  is  than  any  present — and  that  is  why  I  would  like  the  work- 
men to  have  the  ground  at  the  same  price  as  they  offered  to 
pay  you  for  the  corner  they  asked  for,  on  your  property. " 

"  You  would  make  a  brilliant  business  woman,  Kathe!"  re- 
plied the  counselor,  laughing  aloud.  "  My  barren  bit  of  land 
would  have  been  a  bad  bargain,  if  it  had  gone  at  the  price 
they  offered — and  the  piece  you  would  part  with  is  rich  and 
fertile,  besides  being  in  the  heart  of  the  property.  No,  no, 
child,  however  much  I  might  feel  inclined  to  accede  to  your 
request,  my  position  as  your  guardian  forbids  my  giving  you 
the  power,  if  only  for  one  hour,  of  doing  as  you  wish  in  this 
instance. " 

"  Then  the  building  project  must  lie  by  for  awhile,"  she 
replied,  neither  angry  nor  annoyed  at  his  refusal  of  her  re- 
quest; "  three  years  hence  I  shall  think  exactly  as  I  do  now  on 
the  subject — of  that  I  am  quite  convinced — and  when  I  am  of 
age  I  shall  let  the  men  have  a  bit  of  land  without  one  farth- 
ing's interest  on  their  money. " 

And  she  nodded  her  head  with  a  merry  gesture  of  defiance 
and  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

KATHE  slowly  descended  the  winding  stairs,  the  upper  half 
of  which  were  so  narrow  that  the  phantom  of  one  of  the  old 


66  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

knights  would  scarcely  have  found  room  to  pass  her,  even  if 
he  had  cared  to  leave  his  grave  and  revisit  the  home  of  his  an- 
cestors. 

Just  ahove  her  head  on  the  wall  of  the  landing-place  hung 
the  arms  of  the  old  family — the  right  of  their  noble  birth,  the 
instrument  for  which  they  had  fought  and  died,  for  the  honor 
of  which  they  gave  up  lands  and  houses,  and  became  them- 
selves strangers  in  the  land  of  their  forefathers.  There  it 
nung,  disfigured  and  discolored,  and  out  of  sight,  while  the  in- 
strument which  had  taken  its  place  in  this  hall  of  a  newly 
created  noble  was  a — modern  iron  safe! 

She  left  the  tower,  and  wandered  away  down  to  the  bridge. 
Leaning  over  the  parapet  for  a  few  moments,  she  gazed  into 
fche  water,  not  at  the  shadow  of  the  overhanging  branches, 
but  at  the  image  of  her  own  face,  with  the  coils  of  dark-brown 
hair  crowning  the  top  of  her  small,  well-shaped  head.  These 
same  coils  of  hair  she  had  been  told  she  ought  to  put  into  the 
hands  of  a  maid;  that  a  young  lady  of  her  position  and  wealth 
had  no  need  or  right  to  keep  them  in  order  herself — to  which 
she  had  replied  that  she  had  "  no  intention  of  turning  into  a 
dummy  for  several  hours  of  the  day/'  while  experienced  hands 
plaited  and  twisted  her  hair  into  a  fashionable  style,  "  that, 
after  all,"  added  the  willful  girl,  as  a  clinching  argument 
against  Mme.  Urach's  earnest  entreaty  for  her  to  have  a  maid, 
"  might  not  become  me.  Oh,  yes!  it  is  very  pleasant  to  be 
rich;  but  I  like  to  be  free  too."  And  the  old  lady  wisely  for 
the  time  allowed  the  subject  to  drop. 

Leaving  the  bridge,  Kathe  walked  on,  following  the  direc- 
tion of  the  stream,  till  she  reached  the  old  woolen  bridge, 
across  which  lay  Susanne's  drying-ground,  and,  just  beyond 
again,  the  picturesque  old  house,  standing  on  the  borders  of 
the  forest,  with  its  irregular  outline  distinctly  marked  against 
the  dark  background  of  the  foliage,  and  the  river  flowing 
almost  close  to  the  steps  of  the  door. 

It  was  a  low,  one-storied  house,  the  roof  rising  like  a  thatched 
cottage  from  immediately  above  the  windows,  surmounted  by 
a  golden  weather-cock  and  a  massive  row  of  chimney-pots, 
from  one  of  which  smoke  was  issuing  in  curling  rings — a  thing 
that  had  not  been  seen  there  for  many  a  long  year;  for  in  the 
miller's  time  the  house  was  used  as  a  place  in  which  to  deposit 
fruit,  and  that  only  in  one  room.  The  window-shutters,  from 
one  year's  end  to  the  other,  were  never  unfastened,  till  they 
must  have  adhered  to  the  window-frames;  and  in  the  fruit 
season  only  once  now  and  again  the  hall  door  was  unlatched, 
in  order  to  admit  Susanne  when  she  fetched  the  baskets  of 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  67 

apples  and  pears  needed  for  the  regular  weekly  household  sup- 
ply. And  then  it  was  that  Kathe,  as  a  little  girl,  had  crept  in 
by  her  side,  and  filled  her  tiny  apron  with  the  luscious  fruit, 
frightened,  while  she  did  so,  at  the  darkness  reigning  around 
her. 

To-day,  for  the  first  time,  she  saw  glass  shining  in  the 
deep  window  embrasures,  one  or  two  of  which  were  partly 
open,  and,  moved  by  a  curiosity  stronger  than  she  had  any 
power  or  wish  to  resist,  she  crossed  the  old  bridge  and  went 
straight  up  to  the  house. 

Her  heart  beat  fast,  and  her  breath  came  and  went  quicker 
than  usual;  for  she  knew  that  the  house  belonged  to  Dr. 
Bruck,  and  that  she  had  no  right  to  be  wandering  around  it  in 
this  idle,  curious  way.  But  as  soon  as  her  feet  had  touched 
the  soft  grass  plat,  and  her  eyes  had  caught  sight  of  the  spar- 
rows twittering  on  the  roof,  she  seemed  to  forget  every  other 
sensation  but  delight  and  astonishment  in  the  lively,  inhabited 
appearance  of  the  deserted  old  building. 

She  wandered  round  the  sides  and  back  of  the  place,  peering 
into  the  rooms,  looking  now  at  a  green  table-cloth  hung  out  of 
one  window,  and  then  at  the  shining  cooking  utensils  visible 
through  another,  till  she  reached  the  west  corner,  and  was 
about  to  continue  along  the  front  part  of  the  house,  when  she 
started  and  stood  still,  with  a  hot  flush  of  shame  at  her 
thoughtless  behavior  covering  her  face  and  reaching  to  the 
roots  of  her  hair. 

For,  at  the  hall  door,  which  divided  the  old-fashioned  house 
into  two  parts,  on  the  top  of  the  steps  which  led  down  to  a 
wide-spreading  lawn,  stood  a  lady — a  refined,  gentle-looking 
woman — whom  Kathe  intuitively  guessed  must  be  Dr.  Brack's 
aunt,  the  widowed  mistress  of  the  house.  She  was  dusting  a 
picture  she  held  in  her  hand;  and  as  Kathe  drew  near,  she 
looked  at  the  young  girl  with  surprise  depicted  plainly  on  her 
face,  and  laid  the  frame  on  a  table  covered  with  books  and 
pictures  that  stood  on  the  doorstep  at  her  side. 

She  was  a  very  different  person  to  the  bustling,  stout,  some- 
what vulgar  woman,  who  cared  for  nothing  but  house-cleaning 
and  cooking,  she  had  imagined  Dr.  Brack's  aunt  must  be 
from  Flora's  sarcastic  description  of  her. 

Glancing  at  her  gentle  face,  the  timid  girl  hurried  forward, 
and  when  she  reached  the  lowest  of  the  three  steps,  she  stam- 
mered out,  by  way  of  apology  for  her  appearance  near  the 
house: 

"  I  played  here  as  a  child,  and  I  have  only  returned  from 
Dresden  a  few  days — and — that  is  my  sister." 


68  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

And  she  pointed  to  the  picture  the  lady  had.  just  placed  on 
the  table,  and  then  burst  into  a  merry  peal  of  laughter  at  her 
own  awkward  manner  of  introducing  herself. 

The  lady  smiled  as  if  amused,  and,  moving  down  the  steps, 
neld  out  both  hands,  saying: 

"  Then  you  must  be  Doctor  Brack's  youngest  future  sister- 
in-law.  "  A  shadow  flitted  over  her  face  as  she  added,  rather 
bitterly:  "  I  was  not  aware  that  there  were  visitors  at  the 
villa." 

It  was  now  Kathe's  turn  for  a  shadow  to  cross  over  her 
bright  laughing  eyes:  was  she  then  such  a  mere  cipher,  such 
a  mere  member  of  the ,  Mangold  family  in  Dr.  Brack's  esti- 
mation, that  he  had  not  thought  it  worth  while  to  mention  his 
interview  with  her  at  the  mill? 

She  bit  her  lips,  and  silently  obeyed  the  lady's  graceful  in- 
vitation to  enter  the  house,  as,  opening  one  of  the  side  doors 
and  entering  the  room  with  a  dignity  that  charmed  Kathe  in 
spite  of  her  momentary  annoyance,  she  said,  in  a  friendly  tone : 

"  This  is  my  private  room,  and  my  home  henceforth  to  the 
end,"  adding,  with  a  smile:  "  Perhaps  you  can  hardly  under- 
stand the  feeling  of  perfect  rest  and  contentment  which  this 
thought  brings  to  me.  I  always  lived  in  the  country  till  my 
husband  had  a  curacy  given  him  in  town,  a  year  or  two  before  his 
death,  and  although  he  thought  it  best  to  accept  the  appoint- 
ment, we  both  regretted  leaving  the  little  parsonage  where  we 
had  spent  our  happiest  years,  though  our  income  was  so  small 
that,  with  all  our  economy  and  care,  it  was  often  a  difficult 
matter  to  meet  our  simple  expenses.  I  dislike  the  dust  and 
noise  of  town  life,  and  the  last  few  years  I  longed  so  much  to 
return  to  the  green  fields  and  fresh  air  of  the  country  that 
my  health  began  to  fail.  I  said  nothing  of  course  to  the  doc- 
tor; and  only  a  few  days  ago  I  discovered  that  he  had  spent 
his  savings  of  years  to  satisfy  this  craving  of  mine,  and  bought 
this  place.  He  brought  me  to  see  it  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
day  he  purchased  it,  and  never  shall  I  forget  the  delight  and 
surprise  I  felt  when  he  told  me  that  henceforth  I  was  to  live 
here."  And  her  voice  faltered  with  emotion  as  she  turned  her 
head  aside  to  hide  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  while  Kathe  wondered 
to  herself  why,  if  she  felt  so  deeply  her  nephew's  kindness,  she 
should  speak  of  him  as  the  "  Doctor,"  and  not  call  him  by 
his  name. 

Presently  the  lady  smiled  again,  and  said,  in  a  confiding  tone 
as  if  she  had  known  her  young  visitor  for  years: 

"  It's  a  genuine  little  castle,  isn't  it?  Look  at  those  massive 
folding  doors  and  that  grand  stucco  work  on  the  ceiling!  and 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  69 

those  old-fashioned  leather  hangings,  with  their  blackened  gold 
ornaments,  must  once  have  been  very  costly.  And  outside  in 
the  garden  there  are  the  remains  of  many  valuable  sandstone 
figures  and  other  ornaments.  I  am  convinced  that  this  place 
was  at  one  time  the  dower-house  of  the  old  Baumgarten  family. 
I  shall  hunt  up  its  history  some  day — but  I  have  only  had  time 
as  yet  to  arrange  the  rooms  a  little,  and  have  the  stoves 
warmed,  for  I  fancy  the  walls  are  a  little  damp,  otherwise  the 
house  is  in  perfect  repair,  not  a  window  broken  or  a  nail  want- 
ing." 

While  the  elder  lady  thus  chatted  on,  Kathe  had  been  quiet- 
ly observing  the  contents  of  the  room.  The  dark,  well-worn 
mahogany  furniture  suited  to  perfection  the  rich,  faded  leather 
hangings.  Not  far  from  the  queer-shaped  voluted  china  stove 
stood  the  roomy  sofa  covered  with  chintz,  above  which  hung  a 
portrait  in  pastilles  of  the  late  curate  in  his  clerical  robes.  A 
group  of  exquisite  plants,  azaleas,  cactus  and  gum-trees  occu- 
pied the  space  on  either  side  of  the  window,  and  the  deep  em- 
brasure itself  was  filled  in  with  sweet-smelling  hyacinths,  deli- 
cate white  narcissus  and  other  spring  flowers.  On  a  small 
stand  placed  in  the  sunlight  half  a  dozen  gold  and  silver  fish 
were  swimming  in  a  globe,  above  which  hung  an  antiquated 
canary  cage,  suspended  by  a  chain  from  a  hook  in  the  ceiling. 
In  a  niche  in  one  side  of  the  room,  ornamented  with  ivy,  stood 
a  work-basket  with  a  low  chair  and  stool  in  front  of  it. 

"  Those  are  my  pet  plants.  I  have  cultivated  them  entire- 
ly myself,"  said  the  curate's  widow,  following  her  young  vis- 
itor's surprised  glance  at  the  rich  floral  show  in  the  window. 
"  The  best  of  them  all,  of  course,  I  had  placed  in  the  doctor's 
room,"  she  added,  opening  the  door  leading  into  an  adjoining 
apartment  and  bidding  Kaihe  enter.  This  apartment  was  a 
corner  room,  the  best  "  of  course  "  the  house  afforded,  with 
the  windows  opening  to  the  south  and  west  sides. 

How  quietly  and  gently  she  uttered  that  expression,  "  of 
course!"  To  Kathe,  young  girl  as  she  was,  it  was  a  simple 
revelation  of  the  true  womanly  devotion  and  affection  this 
childless  widowed  lady  bestowed  upon  her  nephew  in  return 
for  his  care  of  and  affection  for  her.  From  here  could  be  seen 
the  most  beautiful  scenery  in  the  park  and  neighborhood.  In 
the  distance,  beyond  the  flowing  river,  the  gray  top  of  the  villa 
was  just  visible,  so  that  as  the  young  doctor  sat  at  his  writ- 
ing-table he  had  only  to  raise  his  eyes  in  order  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  golden  weather-cock  which  surmounted  the 
house  wherein  dwelt  the  beautiful  girl  he  hoped  to  make  his 
wife.  Kathe  felt  her  cheeks  burn  with  anger  and  indignation 


70  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

as  she  thought  of  the  sweet  illusion  this  man  was  indulging  in, 
while  the  beautiful  object  of  his  love,  her  faithless  sister,  was 
scheming  night  and  day  to  find  an  honorable  excuse  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world  to  dash  that  illusion  to  the  ground  by  withdraw- 
ing from  her  engagement.  Did  he  but  know  it,  the  whisper, 
"Make  him  happy  yourself,"  would  have  accomplished  her 
end. 

Did  the  warm-hearted,  affectionate  aunt,  who  stood  near 
her  while  these  thoughts  coursed  through  her  brain,  instinct- 
ively feel  that  a  terrible  sorrow  was  hovering  over  the  future 
of  her  much-loved  nephew?  She  had  received  Kathe  with  all 
the  confidence  that  her  position  as  the  youngest  future  sister- 
in-law  of  her  nephew  demanded;  she  had  not  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  introduce  herself  as  Dr.  Brack's  aunt,  but  now,  as  she 
looked  anxiously  at  the  young  girl's  grave  troubled  face  and 
remembered  she  had  only  returned  to  the  villa  a  few  days 
since,  an  uneasy  feeling  she  could  not  account  for  took  posses- 
sion of  her,  and  made  her  involuntarily  remark,  after  a  mo- 
ment's pause: 

"  The  room  is  not  quite  finished  yet.  I  have  the  large 
photograph  of  the  doctor's  betrothed  wife  to  hang  up  over 
there/'  and  she  pointed  to  a  space  on  the  wall  between  the 
window,  "  also  an  oil-painting  of  his  mother,  my  dear  and 
only  sister." 

Then  she  went  on  to  say  that  she  expected  him  to  arrive  in 
town  by  the  evening  train,  that  he  had  no  idea  that  she  had 
left  her  old  apartments,  but  that,  wishing  to  give  him  a  pleas- 
ant surprise,  she  had  persuaded  the  kind  counselor  to  allow  her 
to  obtain  the  keys  of  the  new  house  that  she  might  have  all  in 
readiness  against  her  nephew's  return. 

During  this  explanation  the  elderly  lady  had  moved  gently 
to  and  fro  about  the  room,  putting  the  final  touches  to  the 
curtains  and  ornaments,  as  quietly  as  if  the  doctor  himself 
were  sitting  at  his  table  writing.  Then,  after  dipping  her 
hands  in  a  basin  of  fresh  water  in  the  hall  and  wiping  them 
on  a  clean  white  cloth,  she  went  to  a  cupboard  in  the  doctor's 
room  and  taking  out  a  plate  of  sweet  cakes  offered  them  smil- 
ingly to  Kathe,  saying: 

"  They  are  quite  fresh.  I  found  time  to  bake  them  this 
morning  after  my  early  cup  of  coffee,  for  the  doctor  alway? 
likes  to  have  some  by  him  to  give  to  small  troublesome 
patients.  Wine  I  can't  offer  you — the  few  bottles  I  had  by 
me  I  left  in  town — they  belong  to  those  patients  who  are  seri- 
ously ill  and  need  support. " 

The  tears  sprung  intv  Kathe's  eyes  as  she  thought  of  the 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  71 

"  papers  "  in  the  new  iron  safe,  which  could  "  pour  streams 
of  gold  to  every  quarter  of  the  world,'*  of  the  well-filled  wine- 
cellar  in  the  tower,  which  Henriette  had  told  her  contained 
"  mountains  of  bottles,  full  of  rich  old  wine,"  and  of  her  in- 
dolent sister  lounging  on  the  easy-chair  smoking  a  cigarette  of 
rare  and  fabulous  value.  Contrasting  these  things  with  the 
simple  life,  and  habits,  and  speech  of  the  kind-hearted  lady 
before  her,  the  young  girl  lost  her  timidity  and  reserve,  and 
five  minutes  later  was  relating  to  this  apparent  strangei  the 
history  of  her  short  eighteen  years,  of  her  home  and  duties  in 
Dresden,  and  the  busy  life  led  by  her  governess  as  the  wife  of 
a  parish  doctor  in  the  town,  who  had  taught  her  young  pupil 
to  follow  her  example,  and  to  minister  with  her  own  hands, 
not  only  to  the  wants  and  needs  of  the  poor  around,  but  to 
every  one  else  who  had  any  claim  on  her  affection  or  sym- 
pathy. 

"  But  what  does  Madame  Urach  think  of  such  an  education 
for  you?"  asked  the  elderly  lady,  smiling  a  soft,  amused  smile, 
as  she  glanced  admiringly  at  the  blooming  young  face  by  her 
side. 

"I  don't  know, "  replied  Kathe,  shrugging  her  shoulder? 
with  a  mischievous  gleam  in  her  eyes,  "  but  I  think  she  con- 
siders my  movements  too  impetuous,  my  voice  too  loud,  and 
that  on  the  whole  I  am  too  strong  and  healthy,  and  not  pale 
enough.  No  one  knows  how  my  bright  spirits  distress  her — 
they  are  not  lady-like.  Is  that  the  portrait  of  your  sister,  ma- 
dame?"  asked  the  girl,  abruptly  changing  the  conversation, 
and  walking  over  to  the  side  of  the  room  where  an  oil-paint- 
ing was  placed  against  the  wall. 

"  Yes.  I  shall  be  anxious  about  it  till  it  is  hung  up  in  its 
place,  for  the  frame  is  a  little  shaken,  I  fear;  but  I  suffer  from 
giddiness,  and  dare  not  venture  to  mount  the  steps  to  hang  it 
up,  so  it  must  wait  till  the  new  maid  arrives.  I  expect  her 
this  evening.  I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  putting  up  of  my 
bed-curtains  for  the  same  unfortunate  reason." 

In  an  instant  Kathe's  parasol  and  hat  were  laid  on  the  table, 
and  the  nosegay  of  wild  flowers  she  had  gathered  on  the  road 
unthinkingly  placed  in  a  crystal  glass  that  stood  by  the  writ- 
ing materials.  Giving  the  table  a  push  into  the  middle  of  the 
room,  she  took  up  the  hammer  and  nails  lying  011  the  window- 
sill  and  said,  coaxingly: 

"  Let  me  do  it!" 

"  What  a  kind,  useful  little  woman  you  are,"  was  the  older 
lady's  smiling  assent  to  this  unexpected  proposal,  as  she  pointed 
to  a  high  narrow  stool  for  Kathe  to  stand  on. 


73  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSTu 

In  a  very  few  moments  the  picture  was  in  its  place,  and 
then  the  old  lady  handed  her  the  photograph  to  hang  up  also, 
saying,  as  she  gently  removed  a  little  dust  from  the  glass: 

"  What  a  lovely  face  it  is!  I  don't  know  her  very  well,  I 
have  seen  her  so  seldom.  Naturally  I  couldn't  expect  her  to 
come  and  see  an  old  woman  like  me  very  often,  but  she  is  very 
dear  to  me,  since  she  loves  the  doctor  and  means  to  make  him 
happy." 

Kathe  shrunk  back  for  a  moment.  After  all  she  had  heard 
in  the  tower  not  an  hour  ago,  how  could  she  deliberately  place 
before  the  eyes  of  the  deceived  man  the  portrait  which  no 
longer  virtually  belonged  to  him  any  more  than  the  ring  he 
wore  on  his  finger?  Both  would  soon  have  to  be  returned  to 
the  heartless  girl  who  had  played  with  her  lover's  feelings  as  a 
cat  plays  with  a  mouse,  and  yet  Kathe  dared  not  utter  one 
word  of  the  bitter  truth.  She  felt  so  false  and  so  like  a  hypo- 
crite by  her  silence,  that  she  all  but  let  the  picture  fall  to  the 
ground  as  she  took  it  out  of  the  old  lady's  hand.  Hitting  the 
nail  with  such  force  that  it  made  the  old  wall  shake,  she 
hastily  twisted  the  cord  over  it  and  sprung  to  the  ground.  In- 
voluntarily glancing  at  her  work  as  she  replaced  the  table,  she 
fancied  the  beautiful  mouth  curled  in  a  triumphant  wicked 
smile  of  demoniacal  delight. 

Kathe  snatched  up  her  hat  and  parasol  and  turned  to  leave 
the  room  as  quickly  as  possible.  She  had  reached  the  thresh- 
old and  was  uttering  a  hasty  farewell,  when  her  eyes  caught 
sight  of  an  open  door  on  her  right,  through  which  she  could 
Bee  the  old  lady's  uncurtained  bed  with  the  steps  beside  it. 

"  I  had  forgotten  that!"  she  exclaimed.  "  Please  let  me 
do  it,"  she  added,  in  answer  to  her  companion's  objection,  and 
hurrying  into  the  chamber  she  lifted  the  clean  chintz  curtains 
from  the  bed,  and  mounted  the  steps.  She  had  put  half  the 
rings  through  the  iron  rail  running  round  the  head  of  the  bed- 
stead, when  she  raised  her  eyes  and  saw  the  tall  figure  of  a 
man  passing  before  the  window.  She  recognized  him  in  a  mo- 
ment, but  ere  she  could  make  up  her  mind  if  she  should  re- 
main where  she  was  or  dismount  from  her  exalted  position, 
he  had  crossed  the  outer  hall  and  entered  the  room. 

The  elderly  lady,  who  was  mixing  a  glass  of  raspberry  vine- 
gar for  her  "  useful  little  guest,"  turned  round  at  the  sound 
of  heavy  footsteps,  and  exclaiming: 

-     "  Leo,  my  boy,  you  here?"  threw  herself  into  the  young 
man's  arms. 

Half  hidden  behind  the  partly  hung  curtains,  Kathe  wit- 
nessed the  tender  manner  in  which  the  doctor  bei\t  over  his 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSB.  73 

aged  relative,  as  he  lifted  her  hand  from  his  shoulder  and  kissed 
it  reverentially.  Then  raising  his  head  he  glanced  with  pleased 
surprise  round  the  room. 

Well,  Leo,  what  do  you  think  of  my  quitting  town  with- 
out your  leave?"  asked  his  aunt. 

"  I  sha'ii't  find  fault  certainly,  though  you  must  have  been 
doing  a  great  deal  too  much  for  your  strength.  But  you  are 
looking  well,  better  than  when  I  left  you  in  town." 

"  But  you  are  not,  Leo,"  she  interrupted,  anxiously.  "  You 
are  not  half  so  strong  looking  as  you  were,  and  here  some- 
thing" troubles  you,  I  am  sure,"  and  she  touched  his  brow  with 
her  finger.  "  Has  anything  gone  wrong  with  your  patients?" 

"  No,  aunt/'  He  spoke  distinctly  and  assuringly,  but  in  a 
tone  that  admitted  of  no  further  questioning  on  the  subject. 
"  How  pleasant  the  room  looks,"  he  added,  walking  slowly  up 
and  down  the  floor  with  his  hands  behind  him.  "  The  peace 
a  refined  woman's  presence  brings  is  very  sweet  to  a  hard- 
working man.  This  is  why  I  always  come  back  to  you,  aunt, 
and  feel  refreshed.  I  like  your  old-fashioned  furniture  and 
your  gentle  ways.  I  shall  often  stay  here. " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  dare  say,"  answered  the  old  lady,  smiling  arch- 
ly, "  until  a  certain  day  hi  June  arrives.  Your  marriage  is  to 
be  at  Whitsuntide. " 

"  Yes,  on  Whit-Monday,"  he  replied,  in  a  firm  ringing  tone 
of  voice. 

Kathe  began  to  feel  very  uncomfortable.  She  held  her 
breath  and  crouched  down  behind  the  curtains  in  the  hope  that 
each  moment  the  doctor  would  quit  the  room  and  leave  her 
free  to  descend  from  her  exalted  position  unobserved  and  with 
dignity.  In  spite  of  her  vexation  of  being  thus  unwillingly 
forced  into  the  awkward  predicament  of  a  witness  to  the  aunt 
and  nephew's  interview,  she  could  not  help  smiling  at  the 
ridiculous  figure  she  would  cut  if  chance  willed  it  that  he 
raised  his  eyes  in  her  direction,  and  caught  sight  of  her  foot 
through  the  rungs  of  the  steps  on  which  she  stood.  She  re- 
belled against  her  enforced  presence,  but  had  not  sufficient 
courage  to  boldly  descend  from  her  perch  and  face  the  surprise 
of  the  doctor.  She  softly  drew  back  a  corner  of  the  curtain 
and  anxiously  watched  his  movements.  But  instead  of  leaving 
the  room  he  stood  still  by  the  table  and  took  up  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  him  which  lay  on  a  pile  of  books. 

The  moment  his  aunt  noticed  what  he  was  doing  the  color 
deepened  in  her  face,  and  she  darted  forward  as  if  to  take  tb.3 
paper  out  of  his  hand,  but  changing  her  mind,  she  exclaimed: 

"  AJi,  poor  me!  how  forgetful  I'm  growing!    The  letter 


74  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

only  came  an  hour  or  two  ago  from  that  man  Senz,  the  mer- 
chant. It  was  not  to  be  given  you  till  to-morrow.  I  believe 
it  contains  the  payment  of  your  salary,  and  at  this  unusual 
time,  too,  it  makes  me  fear  that — " 

"Yes,  he  too  dismisses  me  as  his  family  physician,"  said 
the  young  doctor,  quietly  throwing  the  letter  and  its  inclosed 
•check  on  the  table.  "  Why  do  you  grieve  over  it,  aunt?" 

"  I?  I  don't,  my  dear,  now  that  I  see  that  you  don't  take 
the  ingratitude  of  that  man  to  heart.  I  firmly  believe  in  you 
and  your  medical  skill  and — your  lucky  star,"  she  answered, 
in  her  soft,  womanly  voice.  "  The  misfortune  and  ill-will 
you  have  to  contend  with  just  now  I  don't  pay  any  attention 
to.  You  will  make  your  way  yet,  my  boy;  you  know  you 
will."  Then  pointing  to  the  adjoining  apartment,  she  added: 
"  Come  and  look  at  your  room  and  see  how  snug  and  undis- 
turbed you  will  be  while  you  work  and  think.  You  can't  tell, 
Leo,  how  delighted  I  am  that  we  are  to  be  together  for  a  few 
weeks  longer,  and  that  I  shall  be  able  to  take  care  of  you. " 

"  Yes,  you  kind  old  aunt;  but  all  those  small  sacrifices  that 
you  have  been  making  the  last  two  or  three  months  because 
you  thought  my  affairs  were  going  badly  must  be  put  a  stop 
to.  You  sha'n't  trouble  your  dear  old  head  again  about  pre- 
paring my  dinner;  if  possible,  we'll  have  back  our  old  cook. 
I  can  afford  it.  Look!"  and  he  took  a  heavy  purse  from  his 
pocket,  opened  it,  and  emptied  its  contents  on  the  table. 

The  old  lady  clasped  her  hands  together  in  speechless  aston- 
ishment at  the  number  of  shining  gold  pieces  on  her  simple 
table-cloth. 

"That  is  only  one  single  fee,  aunt,"  he  said,  with  visible 
satisfaction.  "  Hard  times  are  over,  thank  God!"  and  he 
turned  round  and  left  the  room  ere  his  astonished  old  aunt  had 
time  to  ask  which  of  his  patients  it  was  who  had  rewarded  Mm 
with  this  substantial  sum. 

Now  was  the  moment  for  Kathe  to  escape  from  her  awkward 
position.  Her  heart  beating,  and  her  cheeks  burning  with 
shame  at  having  secretly  overheard  the  foregoing  conversation, 
she  slipped  down  the  steps  as  soon  as  the  old  lady  had  followed 
her  nephew,  and  noiselessly  escaped  across  the  hall  to  the  steps 
outside.  Glancing  back  furtively  into  the  corner  room,  she 
saw  the  aunt  and  nephew  standing  by  the  writing-table,  and 
heard  the  latter  say: 

"  What  lovely  little  wild  flowers!  How  kind  of  you  to  re- 
member how  fond  I  am  of  these  little  blue  spring  flowers!" 

An  exclamation  from  the  old  lady  made  him  start  with  sur- 
prise. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  75 

"  It  was  not  I,  Leo,  it  was  Kathe  Mangold  put  them  in  the 
glass;  she  is  here,  and  I  had  forgotten  all  about  her — my  poor 
old  head!"  and  she  hurried  from  the  room  to  find  her  guest 
and  apologize  to  her  for  her  forgetf ulness. 

But  Kathe  had  gently  closed  the  door  ere  she  reached  the 
hall,  and  was  out  of  sight  through  the  copse  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible. 

Presently  the  young  girl  turned,  and  slowly  walked  back  to 
the  house.  When  she  drew  near  the  windows  she  saw  a  firm, 
strong,  manly  hand  draw  the  hyacinth  pots  slightly  apart  and 
place  between  them  a  crystal  glass  of  blue  forget-me-nots;  it 
was  her  nosegay  that  he  had  evidently  removed  from  his  own 
table  and  brought  in  there  to  the  dining-room. 

Kathe  started  and  blushed,  for  in  spite  of  her  unnoticed  es- 
cape from  the  house  she  had  nevertheless  placed  herself  in  an 
awkward  position.  What  would  he  be  likely  to  think  of  her, 
a  young  girl,  for  placing  a  glass  of  his  favorite  flowers  on  his 
table  in  his  private  study?  Would  he  imagine  she  had  gath- 
ered them  on  purpose? 

Tears  of  vexation  and  annoyance  rose  to  her  eyes,  but  mas- 
tering her  emotion,  she  said,  as  quietly  as  she  could: 

"  Will  you  kindly  hand  me  my  flowers,  Herr  Doctor?  They 
belong  to  me ;  I  put  them  down  for  a  moment  on  the  table  and 
forgot  them;"  and  she  raised  her  hands  to  receive  the  nosegay. 

At  first  it  seemed  as  if  her  unexpected  voice  had  startled 
him,  for  he  half  knocked  over  one  of  the  narcissus  pots;  but 
although  it  somewhat  annoyed  him  to  find  that  his  action  had 
been  seen  by  Kathe,  he  replied  pleasantly,  in  a  voice  that  as- 
sured her  that  he  had  not  meant  to  reprove  her  by  removing 
the  flowers  from  his  room. 

"  I  will  bring  them  out  to  you,  fraulein." 

A  moment  later  his  flowing  beard  and  broad  shoulders  ap- 
peared outside  on  the  top  of  the  steps,  and  he  handed  her  the 
glass  with  a  polite  inclination  of  his  handsome  head.  She 
took  the  flowers  and  said,  smiling: 

"  They  are  bright,  brave  little  things  to  come  out  so  quickly 
in  the  April  sun,  but  they  need  so  much  hunting  after  that 
when  at  last  one  has  found  a  handful  of  them  they  ought  to  be 
prized  higher  than  a  basketful  of  hot-house  flowers,  and  the 
young  girl  looked  fearlessly  up  in  the  doctor's  face,  feeling 
convinced  that  he  would  not  now  imagine  she  had  left  them  on 
his  table  as  a  token  of  their  new  relationship. 

Then  the  old  lady  put  her  head  out  of  the  window  and  apolo- 
gized for  her  forgetf  ulness  of  her  guest  in  the  joy  of  welcom- 


96  MT  THE  COUKSELOR'S  HOUSE, 

ing  her  dear  nephew,  adding  an  urgent  and  warm  entreatj  foJ 
Kathe  to  come  and  see  her  us  often  as  she  could. 

"  In  a  few  weeks  Fraulein  Kathe  returns  to  Dresden/'  ro« 
plied  the  doctor,  quickly, 

"  I  may  remain  longer,  Herr  Doctor;  perhaps  I  shall  stay 
here  a  few  months  even,"  she  answered,  wondering  if  he  feared 
that  she  had  been  talking  to  his  aunt  about  his  peculiar  posi- 
tion with  regard  to  Flora;  and  longing  to  assure  him  that  she 
respected  his  desire  to  keep  his  own  affairs  to  himself,  yet  won- 
dering again  what  this  could  have  to  do  with  her  stay  at  the 
villa.  "  Besides,"  she  added,  after  a  pause,  "  as  Henriette's 
physician,  you  will  be  the  best  judge  of  when  she  will  be  well 
enough  for  me  to  leave  her  and  return  to  Dresden." 

"  Do  you  intend  nursing  Henriette?" 

"  Of  course  I  do,  and  I  think  it  a  great  shame  that  she  has 
hitherto  been  nursed  only  by  servants;  she  has  very  bad  nights, 
and  she  told  me  herself  that  she  would  rather  pass  them  alone 
than  have  a  sleepy,  disagreeable  person  by  her  side  in  case  she 
needs  help.  That  must  not  occur  again,  I  shall  stay  with 
her." 

"  You  are  taking  upon  yourself  more  than  you  imagine, 
fraulein.  Henriette  is  very  ill,  and  will  require  long  and 
patient  nursing,"  he  added,  shading  his  eyes  with  his  hand. 

"  I  know  that,"  replied  Kathe,  gravely,  her  cheeks  paling. 
"  But  I  have  courage — " 

"  I  don't  doubt  it  for  a  moment,  any  more  than  I  do  your 
patience  or  your  kind-heartedness;  but  it  is  not  a  question  of 
conjecture  as  to  time.  I  can  not  possibly  give  my  consent  to 
your  accepting  the  post  of  head  nurse;  physically  you  could 
not  endure  the  fatigue. " 

"I?"  and  the  girl  held  up  her  arm  and  looked  proudly  at 
its  round,  plump  appearance,  as  she  smiled  incredulously  and 
said,  warmly:  "  Don't  you  think  your  fears  on  that  score  may 
be  set  at  rest,  Herr  Doctor?  I  come  of  a  good  healthy  family. 
I  take  after  my  grandmother,  who  was  a  peasant  you  know,  or 
rather  a  woodman's  daughter;  she  used  to  go  about  barefoot, 
and  could  handle  an  ax  better  than  her  brothers.  Susanne 
told  me  that." 

The  young  man  looked  up  at  the  open  window,  and  caught 
his  old  aunt  regarding  his  companion  with  a  strange  look  of 
admiration  shining  in  her  eyes.  His  own  face  immediately 
clouded. 

"  It's  not  a  question  of  muscular  strength,"  he  said,  evasive- 
ly; "  as  a  rule  it  is  not  so  necessary  in  a  sick-room,  aud  we 
must  think  of  your  nerveaj  however,  it  is  not  for  nie  to  deter* 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOtJSE.  7? 

mine  the  point  of  your  stay.  That  is  Moriz 's  affair;  he  is  your 
guardian  and  he  will  decide  when  it  is  best  you  should  return 
to  Dresden/'  and  the  last  words  were  uttered  in  a  more  deter- 
mined tone  than  was  usual  with  the  pleasant-spoken  doctor. 

His  aunt  shrunk  back  and  looked  at  him  questioningly,  but 
Kathe  stood  quite  still. 

"  Why  are  you  so  inflexible?  Why  do  you  seem  so  anxioua 
that  my  guardian  should  be  hard  and  unyielding  on  this  sub- 
ject?" the  girl  asked  in  her  musical  voice.  "  Are  you  afraid 
I  shall  do  harm  by  staying;  I  don't  think  Moriz  has  power 
over  me  to  keep  me  from  nursing  my  sister  if  I  choose.  What 
do  you  say  to  her  going  with  me  to  Dresden?  There  my  old 
friend  will  share  the  nursing  with  me;  that  won't  hurt  my 
nerves/'  and  she  smiled  again. 

"  I  will  see  what  I  can  do/'  he  replied. 

"  In  that  case  I  promise  to  fly  away  from  here  as  fast  and 
as  soon  as  possible/'  replied  Kathe,  with  a  grateful  expression 
in  her  eyes  which  made  him  turn  away  his  own  and  remain 
silent. 

"  Are  you  then  so  very  anxious  to  be  gone?"  asked  the  old 
lady,  with  a  slight  reproach  ringing  in  the  sound  of  her  voice. 

The  young  girl  drew  the  gauze  scarf  which  had  fallen  on  her 
shoulders,  and  which  she  had  worn  instead  of  a  hat,  over  her 
head,  and  tied  it  firmly  under  her  chin,  ere  she  answered, 
laughingly: 

"  Ought  I  to  say  '  no '  for  politeness'  sake,  madame?  I  am 
afraid  that  as  things  are  I  shall  be  obliged  to  take  my  place  in 
the  world  and  conform  to  its  capricious  usages,  but  I  have  no 
intention  of  giving  up  my  individual  freedom  of  thought.  I 
am  as  much  a  stranger  to  the  grandmother  of  my  half-sister 
now  as  I  was  when  dear  papa  made  me  kiss  her  hand  as  a  lit- 
tle girl.  She  does  not  understand  me  at  all,  and  I  shrink  away 
from  her,  and  would  like  to  hide  myself  in  a  corner  as  I  did 
when  a  child.  How  cold  the  house  seems!"  and  she  shivered. 
'  There  is  too  much  marble,  it  chills  one's  feet.  That  is  why 
Moriz  has  become  such  a  formal,  stately  man.  Yes,  dear  ma- 
dame,  I  shall  be  delighted  to  return  to  Dresden  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible— provided  Henriette  goes  with  me,  for  I  love  her  dearly; 
if  she  does  not,"  and  the  girl  dropped  the  bantering  tone  she 
had  adopted  toward  the  old  lady — "  if  she  is  not  allowed  to  go, 
then  I  shall  do  my  best  to  remain  where  I  am,  even  to  run- 
ning the  risk  of  obliging  Moriz  to  use  physical  force  for  my 
removal  to  Dresden. 

With  a  friendly  nod  to  his  aunt  and  a  slight  bow  to  the  doo 
tor,  she  turned  off  on  her  road  to  visit  old  Susanne. 


F8  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  factory  clock  had  chimed  out  seven,  yet  Kathe  was  still 
sitting  in  the  bow-window  at  the  Mill-house.  She  had  yielded 
to  Susanne's  wish,  and  inspected  the  contents  of  the  linen- 
press,  had  listened  to  the  old  woman's  complaints  that  she  wa? 
not  yet  strong  enough  to  "  look  after  things  a  bit,"  and  to  hei- 
grumblings  about  the  inspector's  wife,  whom  she  did  not  trust 
implicitly,  although  she  was  a  "  good,  kind  soul."  But  Kathe 
had  not  taken  much  interest  to-day  in  all  these  things,  and 
felt  glad  when  Susanne  had  gone  to  bed  and  left  her  to  herself 
in  the  dimly  lighted  room. 

With  her  hands  lying  idly  in  her  lap,  and  her  head  resting 
against  the  back  of  her  chair,  the  young  girl  gave  herself  up 
to  thinking.  She  was  in  no  hurry  to  leave  the  mill;  when  the 
twilight  hour  was  over,  she  would  still  have  ample  time  to 
walk  back  to  the  villa  and  change  her  dress  before  joining  the 
family  circle  at  eight. 

This  twilight  hour  with  its  soft  beauty  and  subdued  hush 
was  an  unknown  pleasure  at  the  villa.  There  the  moment  the 
sun  was  down  the  shutters  were  closed,  and  the  brilliant  gas- 
chandeliers  were  lighted,  and  every  shadow  and  half  tint  driven 
mercilessly  away  out  of  sight.  But  in  Dresden  how  sweetly 
this  hour  was  prized  by  all  the  inmates  of  the  house,  when  gen- 
tle words  were  spoken  and  kindly  thoughts  exchanged,  which 
gave  impetus  and  encouragement  to  each  for  the  labors  of  the 
following  day. 

The  monotonous  swaying  to  and  fro  of  the  pendulum  of  the 
xvooden  clock  in  the  corner  of  the  big  room  was  dull  and 
•heavy;  but  it  reminded  the  young  girl  of  the  evenings  spent  in 
the  same  room  when  she  was  a  little  child,  and  listened  with 
delight  and  yet  trembling  to  the  fairy  tales  related  by  old 
Susanne  as  she  sat  spinning  by  the  stove. 

She  glanced  round  the  vast  apartment,  shrouded  in  the  ap- 
proaching darkness,  and  half  shuddered  as  her  eyes  rested  on  the 
spot  where  her  grandfather  had  died;  and  then  she  went  on  to 
think  of  the  strange  remarks  made  by  the  doctor  when  first 
she  arrived,  when  she  questioned  him  about  the  old  man's 
death — unheeded  by  her  as  to  its  full  meaning  at  the  time,  but 
now  so  well  understood  by  the  light  of  the  knowledge  that  had 
come  to  her  since. 

Well,  all  the  world  might  say  to  the  contrary,  but  she  could 
tot  and  would  not  believe  that  such  an  earnest,  truthful,  up- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  79 


right  man  as  she  was  convinced  the  doctor  was  would 
risked  the  danger  of  performing  an  operation  and  hastening  4 
man's  death  if  he  had  not  had  firm  faith  in  his  own  skill  and 
experience,  and  the  truest  belief  that  the  result  of  his  skill 
would  be  satisfactory, 

And  the  young  girl's  cheeks  grew  hot  with  anger,  and  her 
aeart  felt  heavy  with  sorrow,  as  she  recalled  Flora's  bitter 
sneers  against  Dr.  Bruck's  medical  knowledge  when  they  were 
sitting  in  the  luxuriously  furnished  apartments  in  the  tower. 

What  a  very  strange  woman  this  much-admired  sister  must 
be  to  cut  and  wound  to  the  heart's  core  the  man  she  was  en- 
gaged to  and  had  promised  to  marry  in  a  very  few  weeks! 
And  then  Kathe  's  thoughts  wandered  off  to  all  she  had  heard 
about  this  same  lover  whom  Flora  pretended  to  despise;  how 
he  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  Franco-German  war  by  his 
courage,  and  skill,  and  bold  daring;  how,  on  the  return  of  his 
regiment  to  Berlin,  he  had  been  rewarded  with  a  post  of  honor 
and  distinction,  which  had  brought  him  prominently  into 
notice  as  a  man  of  mark  and  merit;  and  how,  at  the  wish  of 
his  aunt,  he  had  resigned  this  post  and  returned  to  M  --  . 
Here  his  brilliant  services  in  the  war,  and  the  honors  showered 
upon  him  in  Berlin,  had  caused  him  to  become  a  much-sought- 
after  physician,  and  a  very  desirable  match  for  the  daughters 
of  the  neighboring  families. 

Even  the  proud,  ambitious  Flora  Mangold  had  considered  it 
no  condescension  on  her  part  to  favor  him  with  a  promise  of 
her  hand.  She  had  openly  shown  a  preference  for  his  society 
during  the  first  few  weeks  of  his  return  to  M  --  ;  and  when, 
a  little  later  on,  her  engagement  to  the  renowned  young  doc- 
tor was  publicly  announced,  she  was  congratulated  by  all  her 
•friends,  and  envied  by  all  the  unmarried  ladies  belonging  to 
cheir  neighborhood. 

No  wonder  she  shrunk  from  personally  breaking  her  engage- 
ment now  that  misfortune  had  overtaken  her  lover;  she  feared 
the  world's  verdict  on  such  conduct  if  it  came  to  be  known 
that  she  had  heartlessly  Hung  him  over  at  the  first  breath  of 
slander  touching  his  medical  skill.  So  she  preferred  secretly 
torturing  and  wounding  him,  till  her  cold  indifference  and 
scornful  manner  should  goad  him  into  withdrawing  from  all 
claim  to  her  hand. 

Kathe  sprung  up  from  her  seat  as  the  thought  struck  her 
that  if  she  remained  at  the  villa  for  any  length  of  time  she 
would  have  to  Witness  the  young  doctor's  miserable  awakening 
from  his  dream  of  Paradise.  That  he  loved  her  sister  Flora 
Devotedly  and  blindly  she  was  convinced-,  also  that  he  would 


80  Iff  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

struggle  hard  to  win  her  for  his  wife  before  acknowledging  his 
defeat. 

Kathe.  clinched  her  hands  with  rage  as  she  determined 
henceforth  to  support  Moriz  and  Henriette,  and  oblige  Flora 
to  keep  to  her  word,  and  not  allow  her  to  betray  the  man  to 
whom  she  had  plighted  her  troth. 

"  What  a  fool  Flora  must  be  to  throw  away  so  much  happi- 
ness!" muttered  the  young  girl,  angrily.  "  If  she  had  only 
seen  him  as  I  did  to-day,  so  tender  and  gentle  to  his  old  aunt, 
she  would — " 

But  Kathe  checked  herself,  hastily  pushed  aside  the  stool  at 
her  feet,  and  sprung  across  the  dark  room  into  the  hall,  where 
a  lamp  burned  brightly,  and  the  door  of  the  work-room  stood 
open,  'through  which  the  burr  of  the  mill-wheels  and  the  hum 
of  the  machines  could  be  plainly  heard.  The  light  and  the 
noise  combined  to  scare  away  the  half-formed  thought  which 
had  involuntarily  crept  into  the  young  girl's  brain  and  fright- 
ened her. 

As  she  left  the  Mill-house  and  slowly  walked  down  the  stone 
steps,  the  evening  air  cooled  her  hot  cheeks,  and  made  her  feel 
half  ashamed  of  the  manner  in  which  she  had  spent  the  last 
hour  in  the  corner  room  of  the  old  Mill-house. 

The  stars  were  shining  overhead,  and  it  was  quite  dark  when 
she  reached  the  villa.  Peering  through  one  of  the  windows 
where  the  shutters  were  not  quite  closed,  she  saw  that  the 
drawing-room  was  full  of  visitors.  Then  suddenly  she  remem- 
bered that  this  was  Mme.  TJrach's  reception  night,  and,  hastily 
running  round  to  a  side  entrance  for  fear  of  being  seen  in  the 
hall,  she  rushed  up  to  her  own  room  to  change  her  dress. 

It  was  nearly  half  past  eight  when  Kathe  entered  one  of  the 
drawing-rooms,  where  Henriette  sat  at  the  tea-table,  with  a 
number  of  young  ladies  chatting  and  laughing  about  her. 

"  Come  here,  Kathe,"  exclaimed  Henriette,  as  the  young 
girl  appeared;  "  the  tea  is  cold,  I'm  afraid,  but  you  shall  have 
some  fresh  made  if  you  like. ' ' 

"  No,  thank  you,  dear,"  replied  Kathe,  looking  anxiously 
at  the  pale,  drawn  face  of  the  invalid  girl,  whose  eyes  were 
shining  feverishly,  and  whose  emaciated  angular  figure  looked 
almost  grotesque,  by  reason  of  the  scarlet  sleeveless  jacket  she 
wore  over  a  bright  blue  silk  dress.  Her  fair  hair  was  adorned 
with  ribbons  of  the  same  brilliant  hue,  and  the  little  shoe  peep- 
ing from  under  her  skirts  had  attached  to  it  a  rosette  of  color 
to  match  her  jacket. 

"  Doctor  Bruck  has  come  back, "  whispered  Henriette,  in  a 
low,  trembling  voice,  nodding  her  head  toward  tlie  musio- 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  81 

room,  where  some  one  was  murdering  a  popular  raise  on  a 
grand  piano;  "  he  is  not  there,  but  in  Flora's  room  beyond. 
Kathe,  doesn't  he  look  as  if  he  had  grown  taller  since  he  went 
away?  Good  gracious!  Kathe,  don't  put  on  that  long  face!" 
the  girl  went  on,  excitedly.  "  Every  one  seems  disagreeable 
to-night — Moriz  is  put  out  at  the  contents  of  a  telegram  he  re- 
ceived an  hour  ago,  and  grandma  is  as  savage  as  she  can  be 
because  her  rooms  are  somewhat  empty  this  evening.  Bah! — 
and  I,  I  am  so  happy,  so  very  happy !  Do  you  know.,  Kathe, 
I  was  afraid,  a  couple  of  days  ago,  that  Doctor  Brack  would 
find  me  a  corpse  when  he  returned.  No,  no,  I  will  not  die,  if 
he  is  not  there  by  me." 

It  was  well  that  the  false  notes  from  the  adjoining  room 
crashed  louder  and  louder,  and  that  the  old  gentlemen  by  the 
stove  raised  their  voices  in  warm  dispute  over  some  political 
question,  for  Henriette  had  spoken  in  a  sharp,  clear  tone  that 
caused  Mme.  Urach  to  raise  her  eyes  and  look  reprovingly 
across  the  tea-table.  In  an  instant  the  girl  recovered  her  usual 
calmness,  and  added  quietly  to  Kathe,  as  she  shrugged  her 
shoulders  and  glanced  round  the  room:  "  No  one  dies  willingly 
alone;  and  if  the  doctor  is  standing  by,  well!  one  always  fan- 
cies up  to  the  last  moment,  I  suppose,  that  one  will  recover. 
Won't  you  drink  this,  Kathe?" 

"  I  can't,"  was  all  the  answer  Kathe  could  utter.  She  knew 
now  quite  well  that  Henriette  would  never  go  to  Dresden,  and 
with  nervous,  trembling  fingers  she  pulled  a  piece  of  embroid- 
ery out  of  her  pocket,  and  tried  to  make  it  appear  to  those 
around  that  she  meant  to  work. 

"  Nonsense!"  exclaimed  Henriette,  impatiently.  "  Do  you 
imagine  I  am  going  to  sit  here  and  watch  you  drag  your  needle 
in  and  out  that  bit  of  embroidery?  Come,  let  us  go  to  the 
music-room!  Margaret  von  Grise  will  destroy  our  nerves  as 
well  as  the  instrument,  unless  we  put  an  end  to  that  noise;", 
and  she  wound  her  thin  arms  round  Kathe's  waist,  and  drew, 
her  into  the  adjoining  apartment. 

The  wide  folding  doors  between  this  room  and  Flora's  pri- 
vate sanctum  beyond  were  thrown  open  to-night,  as  was  usually 
the  case  on  Mme.  Urach's  reception  evenings.  Flora  was 
standing  idly  by  the  table,  her  brother-in-law  lounging  in  a 
fauteuU,  and  Dr.  Bruck  turning  over  the  leaves  of  a  book, 
when  the  two  girls  appeared  on  the  threshold.  The  doctor 
looked  pale  in  spite  of  the  subdued,  soft  light  from  the  lamp, 
which  was  not  half  so  bright  as  the  gas  in  the  adjoining  salons, 
and  his  face  was  overshadowed  by  an  earnest,  grave  expression 
about  the  brow  and  mouth  which  betokened  a  spirit  ill  at  ease, 


82  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

within;  but  in  spite  of  his  gravity  he  looked  remarkably  young 
by  the  side  of  his  handsome  betrothed  bride. 

Seeing  the  lovers  were  not  alone,  Henriette  walked  uncon- 
cernedly into  the  room,  but  Kathe  stood  hesitating  on  the 
threshold.  Flora's  forbidding  countenance  awed  her.  She 
noticed,  by  a  glance  at  the  lovely  face  before  her,  that  her  sis- 
ter was  not  in  a  pleasant  humor,  and  was  about  to  return  to 
the  music-room,  when  Flora  said,  without  changing  her  posi- 
tion at  the  table:  "  Come  here,  child!"  then  as  her  eye  caught 
sight  of  the  gray  silk  dress,  which  Kathe  had  exchanged  for 
the  usual  heavy  mourning  she  wore,  she  added:  "  Always  that 
stiff  silk  which  makes  you  look  like  the  paper  figure  of  an 
angel,  and  is  enough  to  try  the  nerves  of  the  strongest  with  its 
constant  rustling  and  crackling.  For  goodness'  sake  tell  us 
why  you  always  wear  such  thick,  heavy  material,  which  must 
be  as  fit  for  your  simple  domestic  life  in  Dresden  as — " 

"  It's  a  weakness  of  mine,"  interrupted  Kathe,  with  an  un- 
ruffled smile,  "  I  dare  say  you  will  think  it  very  childish,  but 
I  love  to  hear  silk  rustling  about  me,  it  sounds  so  grand.  Of 
course  I  don't  wear  it  in  my  busy  or  domestic  hours  in  Dres- 
den; you  know  that  well,  Flora." 

"  Only  hear  how  proudly  she  emphasizes  the  word  '  domes- 
tic!' You  little  goose — I  should  like  to  see  you  just  once  in 
your  linen  apron  giving  out  the  stores.  Ah,  well!  Every  one 
has  his  or  her  hobby!  To  be  domestic — is  not  mine,"  and  she 
looked  slowly  into  the  young  doctor's  face,  who  closed  his 
book,  and  laid  it  on  the  table. 

"  What  nonsense,  Flora!"  cried  Henriette,  in  her  shrill, 
mocking  voice;  "a  few  months  ago  you  were  often  enough 
over  at  the  soup  kitchen,  as  interested  as  any  one  in  making 
the  soup,  or  pretending  to  be — any  way,  the  dainty  linen  apron 
and  your  wonderful  exertions  became  you  perfectly — ha!  ha!" 

Flora  bit  her  lip. 

"  As  usual,  you  are  exaggerating;  and  this  time  you  have 
represented  that  fancy  of  mine  as  an  earnest  act,  whereas  it 
was  only  a  passing  caprice,"  replied  Flora,  as  she  slowly  began 
pacing  to  and  fro  on  the  floor,  fully  aware  that  the  white  alpaca 
folds  of  her  dress  showed  off  to  advantage  the  supple  grace  of 
her  figure. 

The  counselor  sprung  up. 

"  Will  it  please  you  to  come  into  the  other  room  now?"  he 
asked.  "  There  are  very  few  people  here  to-night,  and  no 
wonder — there  is  a  soiree  at  the  duke's  this  evening,"  he  add- 
ed, as  if  to  reassure  himself.  "  But  unless  we  make  up  our 


IN  THE"  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  83 

minds  to  a  day  or  two's  bad  humor  from  grandmamma,  wo 
had  better  go  and  make  ourselves  agreeable.     Come,  Flora. " 

"  I  have  excused  myself  for  half  an  hour,  Moriz,"  she  re- 
plied, with  impatience.  "  My  article  must  be  finished  to- 
night, and  it  would  have  been  done  already  if  Doctor  Bruck 
had  not,  unfortunately,  detained  me.7' 

"  Is  there  so  much  hurry  needed?   Why,  may  I  ask?"  spoke 
the  doctor,  drawing  near  the  writing-table  with  his  eyes  brim 
ful  of  fun. 

"  Why?  Because  I  gave  my  word  it  should  be  done  to- 
night," she  answered,  sharply.  "  Ah,  it  amuses  you,  I  see.  I 
suppose,  as  it  is  only  a  woman's  work,  you  are  wondering  who 
in  all  the  world  is  waiting  for  such  a  trifle?" 

"  I  general,  I  don't  think  so  lightly  of  woman's  work — " 

"  In  general?"  she  repeated,  with  a  hard  laugh.  "  Ah, 
yes,  to  be  sure,  in  general  woman's  work  consists  in  cooking, 
sewing,  knitting — " 

"  Why  don't  you  allow  me  to  finish,  Flora?"  he  went  on, 
patiently.  "  I  was  referring  to  woman's  moral  influence  as 
well  as  to  the  work  of  her  hands.  I  have  not  gone  very  much 
into  the  question  of  women's  rights,  but  I  maintain  that  she  is 
capable  of  being  a  true  helpmeet  and  assistant  to  man  in  all 
his  undertakings,  be  the  undertakings  of  what  nature  they 
may." 

"Assistant?  How  condescending!  My  dear  friend,  we 
women  want  more  than  that.  We  claim  equality,  and  free- 
dom to  pursue  whatever  aim  or  purpose  we  may  have  in  view." 

.He  smiled  and  shrugged  his  shoulders  with  a  deprecating  air 
as  he  answered  in  a  slightly  sarcastic  tone: 

"  That  is  the  highest  and  wildest  power  modern  advance- 
ment can  claim,  but  one  which  will  be  disputed  by  all  those 
who  have  no  wish  to  see  women  placed  in  a  false  position.  It 
would  be  like  putting  a  sharp  knife  into  a  small  careless 
hand." 

Flora  did  not  reply,  but  her  face  had  become  very  white. 
She  pointedly  took  up  a  steel  pen  lying  on  the  table,  tried  its 
nib  on  her  thumb-nail,  and  stuck  it  in  a  pen-holder;  then  she 
drew  toward  her  a  small  ebony  case,  and  with  a  rash  but  trem- 
bling hand  opened  it  and  drew  forth  a  cigarette.  Henriette 
snatched  her  hand  from  Kathe's  arm  and  stepped  forward  as 
if  to  remonstrate  with  her  willful  elder  sister.  The  counselor 
walked  hastily  across  the  room,  as  the  small  tapering  fingers 
opened  a  small  knife,  and,  with  a  defiant  glance  over  her 
shoulder  at  the  doctor,  Flora  sniffed  off  the  end  bit,  saying: 

"  The  knife  to  be  used  for  this  purpose,  eh?    But  there  is 


84  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

one  thing  that  our  poor  woman's  brain  shares  in  common  with 
you  men,  and  that  is,  that  we  can  think  and  work  far  better 
than  we — smoke, "  and  she  struck  a  match  and  lighted  the 
cigarette. 

"  You  smoking,  Flora?  Why,  I  thought  a  cigar  always  made 
you  feel  ill!"  exclaimed  Margaret  Grise,  entering  just  at  this 
moment  and  clapping  her  hands  together. 

"Flora  is  only  doing  it  for  fun,"  remarked  Dr.  Bruck, 
quietly  nearing  the  table  where  his  betrothed  was  standing. 

This  first  attempt  will  be  enough  for  her,  a  second  woidd  be 
injurious  to  her  health." 

"  Will  you  dare  forbid  it,  Leo?"  asked  Flora,  in  an  icy  tone, 
but  with  flashing  eyes,  as  for  a  moment  she  took  the  cigarette 
from  her  lips  and  held  it  daintily  between  her  fingers. 

Without  any  haste,  and  in  a  gentle  but  firm  manner,  the 
young  man  took  the  obnoxious  weed  from  her  hand  and  threw 
it  among  the  ashes  of  the  stove. 

"  I  have  no  right  as  yet  to  forbid  it.  I  might  beg  you  not 
to  do  it,  but  I  have  no  liking  for  useless  requests.  You  know 
very  well  I  hate  to  see  smoke  issuing  from  a  woman's  lips. 
In  my  capacity  as  physician  I  absolutely  forbid  you  to  smoke. 
I  have  told  you  before  your  lungs  are  not  too  strong. " 

At  first  Flora  looked  at  her  lover  in  speechless  astonishment 
at  his  boldness,  but  when  he  made  reference  to  her  lungs  she 
shuddered  slightly,  but  quickly  rallying,  she  said,  with  a  mock- 
ing laugh: 

"  That  is  a  very  far-fetched  diagnosis.  Besides,  that  horrid 
old  court  physician,  who  has  known  me  since  my  childhood, 
has  never  hinted  at  such  a  thing.  You  try  to  frighten  me  as 
if  I  were  a  baby.  Bah!  Life  is  not  such  a  delightful  thing  to 
me  that  I  care  to  give  up  one  pleasure  to  prolong  it.  On  the 
contrary,  I  mean  to  continue  to  smoke — it  is  necessary  for 
me  in  my  literary  vocation,  and  this  vocation  is  my  only  hap- 
piness— for  it  I  live  and  breathe — " 

"  Till  you  arrive  at  the  inevitable  turning-point  to  which 
your  vocation  is  leading,  "broke  in  the  doctor,  in  a  severe  tone. 

An  angry  flush  passed  over  her  brow.  She  opened  her  lips 
to  make  a  bitter  retort,  but  noticing  Fraulein  Grise's  presence 
in  the  room  she  wisely  refrained.  Having  no  desire  that  this 
scandal-loving  young  lady  with  the  sharp  face  and  angular 
shoulders  should  repeat  at  the  court,  where  she  was  one  of  the 
dames  d'honneur,  the  disagreeable  fact  that  the  proud  Flora 
Mangold  had  stooped  to  quarrel  with  her  lover,  she  forced  her 
lips  to  smile,  and  in  her  usual  graceful  manner,  answered, 
languidly: 


1ST    THE    COUNSELORS    HOUSE.  81- 

"  What  nonsense,  Leo!  You  are  prosy  to-night.  You  hava 
just  returned  from  a  pleasure-trip;  did  you  amuse  your — " 

She  became  suddenly  silent,  for  the  doctor  had  seized  hei 
left  hand  and  held  it  in  a  vise. 

"  Will  you  have  the  kindness  not  to  make  fun  of  my  voca- 
tion, Flora?"  he  said,  laying  a  stress  on  each  word. 

"  I  was  speaking  of  pleasure,"  she  answered,  flippantly, 
snatching  her  hand  angrily  away. 

It  was  never  an  agreeable  sight  to  Kathe  when  Mme.  TJrach's 
unsympathetic  face  appeared  unexpectedly  in  her  vicinity,  but 
just  *now  she  felt  a  positive  relief  when  she  saw  the  old  lady 
suddenly  enter  the  room.  Her  countenance  bore  traces  of 
vexation  and  annoyance,  and  her  whole  figure  shook  with  sup- 
pressed anger  as  she  said: 

"  I  shall  be  obliged  to  have  my  whist-table  brought  in  here 
if  my  guests  are  to  be  neglected  in  this  way.  Henriette, 
what  made  you  leave  the  tea-table  so  soon?  I  shall  have  to 
place  my  maid  there;  she  will  not  desert  her  post  before  her 
duty  is  finished.  And  as  to  you,  Flora,  I  am  surprised  to  find 
you  at  your  writing-table  when  you  know  our  friends  are  here. 
And  if  your  publisher  hurries  you  so  much  that  you  are  obliged 
to  work  in  the  evening,  then  be  good  enough  to  close  your 
door  unless  you  wish  us  to  understand  that  the  whole  thing  is 
only  done  from  ostentation  and  a  love  of  appearing  learned. " 

The  old  lady  must  have  been  very  irate  indeed  to  speak 
thus  before  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  court. 

Flora  opened  her  papers  and  arranged  her  pens. 
'  You  may  think  as  you  please,  grandmamma!"  she  said, 
coldly.  "  I  can  not  help  it  if  others  come  and  disturb  me; 
but  for  the  interruption  I  should  have  been  making  a  sacrifice 
of  myself  at  the  present  moment,  and  be  sitting  at  one  of  your 
green  tables." 

Henriette  slipped  unnoticed  past  her  grandmother,  and 
winking  to  Kathe  to  follow,  whispered  as  they  left  the  room: 

"  These  scenes  are  killing  me  fast." 

"  Have  patience!  Flora  will  have  to  give  way;  he  will  force 
her  to  obey  him  yet,"  replied  Kathe,  strongly  excited.  "  But 
I  can't  understand  Mm.  Were  I  in  his  place — "  she  did  not 
finish,  but  drew  herself  up  proudly  as  her  eyes  flashed  scorn- 
fully. 

"  But  you  don't  understand  the  force  of  love,  Kathe.  I 
can  see  by  your  cool  looks  and  blooming  face  that  you  have  not 
yet  tasted  of  the  poisonous  cup."  Then  after  a  moment's 
pause  to  regain  her  breath,  she  went  on  slowly  and  thought- 
fully. 


86  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  You  have  no  idea  how  fascinating  and  charming  Flora  can 
be  if  she  chooses.  You  have  only  seen  her  since  she  has  been 
playing  this  detestably  mean  role.  I  can  quite  understand 
that  the  man  whom  she  once  convinced  she  loved  would  die 
sooner  than  give  her  up. " 

CHAPTER  IX. 

HENBIETTE  went  back  to  her  place  at  the  tea-urn,  but 
Kathe  remained  standing  by  the  piano  in  the  music-room 
thinking  over  what  she  had  just  heard.  Could  it  be  possible 
that  a  man  would  die  rather  than  give  up  a  girl  who  scorned 
his  love?  And  was  Dr.  Bruck  a  man  likely  to  commit  such  a 
folly? 

She  could  not  help  noticing  him  closely  as  he  passed  through 
the  room  with  Mme.  TJrach  and  stopped  to  exchange  a  few 
words  with  a  newly  arrived  guest.  His  manner  was  quiet  and 
courteous  as  usual,  but  Kathe  had  seen  his  eyes  flash  with 
anger  once  or  twice  while  he  was  talking  to  Flora,  and  even 
now  there  was  a  disturbed,  troubled  look  about  his  brow  which 
denoted  a  more  restless  spirit  within  than  appeared  outwardly. 

Five  minutes  later  Flora  pushed  back  her  stool  with  an  im- 
patient sigh,  and  stood  on  the  threshold  of  the  door  between 
the  two  rooms. 

"Have  you  finished  already?"  asked  Fraulein  von  Grise 
running  her  fingers  over  the  keys  of  the  piano. 

"  How  absurd  to  imagine  any  such  thing!  Do  you  fancy 
ideas  can  be  struck  off  at  that  rate?  The  fact  is  I  am  tired — 
and  I  never  can  work  unless  the  spirit  is  on  me — I  love  it  too 
well." 

Fraulein  von  Grise  smiled  a  wicked  smile  as  she  remarked: 

"  I  am  getting  very  impatient  to  see  what  the  critics  say  to 
your  work  on  '  Woman. '  You  have  told  us  so  much  about  it 
that  I  am  dying  to  see  it  in  print.  Has  the  publisher  accept- 
ed it?" 

Flora  caught  the  wicked  smile  and  replied: 

"  You  would  be  highly  delighted  if  it  were  a  failure,  wouldn't 
Jrou,  Margaret?  Well,  it  won't  be,  as  I  know  from  my — my 
little  finger."  She  smiled  softly,  shook  her  head  and  ad- 
vanced toward  the  drawing-room  with  the  mien  and  air  of  a 
princess. 

"  What  are  you  looking  at  that  music  for,  Kathe?  Can  it 
be  possible  you  want  us  to  hear  you  play  also?"  ehe  asked, 
standing  still  by  her  sister  and  glancing  with  a  meaning  ex' 
pression  toward  the  young  lady  at  the  piano.  "  Do  you  sing? 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  87 

If  so,  you  must  inherit  the  gift  from  the  Sommerses;  none  of 
our  family  have  any  musical  talent/' 

Kathe  shook  her  head. 

"  At  all  events,  Kathe,  you  must  play,"  said  the  counselor, 
coming  forward  from  a  recess  where  he  had  been  conversia^ 
with  a  friend.  "  I  know  you  do,  from  the  hills  for  your  les- 
sons. Frightfully  dear  ones  too,  as  I  have  often  meant  to  tell 
you. '' 

The  young  girl  laughed. 

"  They  were  the  best,  Moriz.  In  Dresden  people  are  very 
practical,  and  know  that  the  best  are  the  cheapest  in  the  end." 

"  All  right,  my  dear.  But  have  you  any  taste  for  music?" 
he  asked,  doubtfully.  "  Flora  says  truly  the  Mangolds  are  not 
musical." 

"  I  am  fond  of  it,"  she  answered,  simply. 

"  But  have  you  any  talent  for  it?" 

"  I  can  compose  a  melody  some  times,"  she  replied,  blush- 
ing. 

Flora  turned  back  suddenly  to  her  sister 's  side,  saying 
hastily: 

"  Compose  melodies!  What  nonsense  you  talk,  with  your 
rosy  cheeks  and  fondness  for  housewifery.  A  polka,  perhaps, 
if  you  dance  with  spirit — " 

"  I  delight  in  dancing,  Flora,"  broke  in  Kathe,  with  a 
merry  twinkle  in  her  eyes. 

"  Ah!  But  you  ought  not  to  confound  that  kind  of  music 
with  higher  works:  it  would  require  a  profound  study  of 
thorough  bass.  I  don't  suppose  you  have  learned  that?"  she 
added  with  a  slight  sneer. 

"  The  last  three  years  I  have." 

Flora  clasped  her  hands  together  in  despair. 

"  Your  Lucas  " — so  she  always  spoke  of  the  lady  who  educat- 
ed Kathe — "  your  Lucas  must  be  mad  to  waste  money  like 
that." 

No  one  spoke  in  answer  to  this  remark,  every  word  of  which 
must  have  been  heard  in  the  adjoining  room  where  Dr.  Bruck 
sat  silently  by  the  side  of  Henriette,  glancing  now  and  again  at 
the  group  by  the  piano. 

Henriette  moved  quickly  from  her  seat,  and  hurrying  into 
the  music-room,  said,  in  her  shrill,  clear  voice: 

"You  are  fond  of  music,  Kathe,  and  you  have  not  once 
touched  the  piano  since  you  have  been  here?" 

"  The  instrument  stands  close  to  Flora's  room;  how  could  I 
have  found  courage  to  disturb  her  at  her  work?"  replied  the 
young  girl  simply.  "  I  have  over  and  over  again  longed  to 


88  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

play  on  this  piano,  it  has  such  a  glorious  tone,  and  mine  in 
Dresden  is  not  good  for  much.  We  bought  it  second-handed 
five  years  ago.  My  dear  old  friend  often  spoke  of  asking  you 
to  give  me  a  new  one,  Moriz,"  she  added,  addressing  her 
guardian;  "  but  I  dissuaded  her  from  making  the  request,  I 
was  so  afraid  you  might  refuse.  But  since  you  showed  me  that 
new  iron  safe  to-day  I  have  lost  my  shyness,  and  certainly 
should  like  to  have  a  piano  like  this  one/' 

"  That  one  cost  a  thousand  thalers — a  thousand  thalers  is  a 
great  deal  to  give  for  a  girl's  passing  fancy.  I  inuct  think 
over  it  first." 

"  Who  plays  on  your  instrument?"  asked  Kathe,  with  trem- 
bling voice  and  glowing  eyes.  "  Who  ever  touches  it  in  pri- 
vate life?  It  is  only  there  for  the  use  of  your  guests,  Moriz. 
Must  money  never  be  spent  unless  for  show?" 

The  counselor  drew  near  and  took  hold  of  her  hand ;  he  hau 
no  idea  the  girl  possessed  so  much  energy  and  decision  of 
character. 

"  Don't  excite  yourself,  child,"  he  said,  soothingly;  "  am  I 
such  a  very  hard  and  grim  guardian?  Go  and  play  to  us — 
and  let  me  hear  if  you  really  do  care  for  music;  prove  this, 
and  you  shall  have  a  piano  to  your  own  taste." 

"  After  that  I  don't  care  to  play,"  she  replied,  quietly 
drawing  away  her  hand.  "  I  could  not  perform  to  gain  a 
piano — for  how  can  I  tell  what  you  consider  '  real  love  for 
music.'  However,  1  will  fetch  my  notes  and  let  you  hear 
me;  I  hate  to  be  asked  twice." 

She  turned  to  leave  the  room. 

"  Why  fetch  notes?  Let  us  hear  one  of  your  own  composi- 
tions," remarked  Flora,  scornfully. 

"  Even  that  I  can't  do  by  heart,"  answered  Kathe,  closing 
the  door. 

She  soon  returned  with  a  music-case  in  her  hand.  While 
she  seated  herself  at  the  instrument,  Flora  opened  the  case, 
and  taking  out  a  piece  of  music,  cast  her  eyes  over  the  title- 
page  and  asked: 

;'  Who  is  it  by?" 

"  Didn't  you  wish  to  hear  one  of  my  own  compositions?" 

'*  Yes,  of  course;  but  this  piece  is  printed." 

"  Certainly,  it  is  printed." 

"  Why,  how  did  that  happen?"  exclaimed  Flora,  in  undis- 
guised astonishment. 

"  How  does  your  work  happen  to  be  printed?"  retorted 
Kathe,  laughing,  looking  up  gayly  in  her  sister's  face.  Then 
seeing  the  cloud  of  displeasure  that  spread  over  Flora's  counte- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  89 

nance,  she  hastened  to  add,  with  a  proud  smile:  "  My  master 
had  the  '  Phantasie  '  printed  to  give  me  a  birthday  pleasure. " 

"  Alia!  of  course  that  explains  it,"  said  Flora,  laying  the 
piece  down  on  the  piano. 

Henrietta  went  close  behind  her  young  sister,  and  leaning 
over  her  shoulder  when  she  had  arranged  the  piece  on  the 
stand  before  her,  pointed  to  the  title-page,  and  said,  distinctly: 

"  Don't  you  be  imposed  on,  Flora!  Look  here:  there  stands 
the  celebrated  publisher's  name,  Schott  &  Son;  they  don't 
publish  music  to  give  a  girl  a  birthday  pleasure.  Kathe,  tell 
us  the  truth — your  things  are  sold  and  played  by  the  public?" 

Kut he  nodded  and  blushed. 

"  But  what  I  said  just  now  is  true.  I  had  no  idea  my  work 
was  being  printed  till  I  saw  a  copy  of  it  on  my  birthday  table, " 
she  said,  and  began  to  play. 

It  was  a  very  simple  melody  which  presently  fell  in  soft 
sweet  tones  on  the  ears  of  the  whist-players,  forcing  them  to 
involuntarily  lay  down  their  cards  and  listen.  Those  in  the 
music-room  gazed  in  wonder  and  astonishment  at  the  girl  sit- 
ting so  quietly  on  the  stool  at  the  instrument,  that  the  jet 
ornament  on  her  bosom  barely  moved  as  she  breathed.  There 
was  no  brilliant  display  of  execution,  no  crashing  and  noise, 
no  jumbling  together  of  notes;  no  one  asked  himself  if  the 
style  were  correct,  but  as  the  exquisite  melody  went  on,  now 
moving  the  heart  to  tears  with  its  pathos  and  subdued  sweet- 
ness, anon  stirring  the  pulse  to  excitement  with  the  growing 
wildness  and  grandeur  of  its  own  intensity,  every  one  felt  un- 
consciously lifted  as  it  were  out  of  himself  till  in  one  long 
wail  of  sweet-sounding  chords  the  melody  finally  died  away. 
Then  for  several  minutes  a  profound  silence  reigned  in  the 
room,  in  fear  that  the  retreating  spirit  of  the  melody  might  be 
startled  by  a  whisper.  The  first  to  recover  her  powers  of 
speech  was  Fraulein  von  Grise,  who  said,  patronizingly : 

"  The  princess  ought  to  hear  your  charming  '  Phantasie,' 
fraulein;  if  you  will  lend  it  me,  I  will  play  it  to  her." 

"  And  you  shall  have  the  best  pianoforte  that  money  can 
buy,  Kathe,"  said  the  counselor,  her  guardian,  looking  toward 
his  ward  with  an  air  of  glowing  satisfaction  and  delight  visible 
on  his  handsome  countenance. 

When  the  gentlemen  had  thanked  her,  and  the  elderly  ladies 
had  expressed  aloud  their  regret  that  "  her  dear  father  was  not 
alive  to  hear  such  beautiful  music  from  his  youngest  born," 
Henriette  laid  her  pale  sharp  face  caressingly  against  Kathe's 
burning  cheeks,  and  whispered,  with  the  tears  in  her  eyes: 

"  You  dear  darling,  how  proud  I  am  of  you!" 


90  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

Flora  was  the  only  one  who  had  not  spoken;  when  first  the 
beautiful  melody  began,  she  had  noiselessly  returned  to  her 
own  room,  and  softly  paced  the  floor  till  it  was  finished,  every 
now  and  then,  when  some  tone  of  richer  sweetness  fell  on  her 
ear,  glancing  through  the  door  in  startled  wonder  at  the  young 

firl  sitting  at  the  piano.  When  Kathe  rose  from  her  seat, 
lora  disappeared  into  the  shadow  of  the  deep  window  recess. 

"  I  fancy  Flora  is  vexed  that  she  is  no  longer  the  only 
celebrity  in  the  Mangold  family;  she  has  gone  away  to  hide  her 
— her  mortification/'  remarked  Fraulein  von  Grise,  in  a  loud 
whisper  half  to  herself,  half  to  the  counselor. 

The  counselor  smiled;  he  always  did  smile  if  any  one  from 
the  court  favored  him  with  a  confidential  remark,  but  he  did 
not  answer.  Turning  to  Kathe  he  said  in  an  injured  tone: 

"  I  am  very  angry  with  your  '  dear  Lucas/  as  Flora  calls 
Madame  Lucas,  that  she  never  gave  me  a  hint  of  your  wonder- 
ful musical  talents." 

Kathe  smiled,  and  answered  after  a  moment: 

"  At  home  in  Dresden  no  one  thought  of  praising  it  to  out- 
siders. Why  should  they?  Madame  Lucas  is  a  woman  who 
would  never  make  a  boast  respecting  her  own  pupil,  and  she 
knows  I  have  to  learn  a  great  deal  more  yet." 

"  But  I  look  upon  such  reticence  at  Spartan-like  in  its — 

"  Perhaps  the  most  studied  mode  of  securing  a  startling 
scene  that  could  possibly  be  devised/'  broke  in  Flora  from  the 
threshold  of  her  door,  adding,  with  a  bitter  ring  in  her  musical 
voice:  "You  can't  impose  on  me,  Kathe,  and  make  me  be- 
lieve you  have  a  poor  opinion  of  your  own  gift,  or  that  you  are 
not  aware  of  its  importance.  I  think  it  was  very  false  and 
mean  of  you  to  be  here  in  the  house  for  ten  days  and  more 
and  pretend  you  did  not  know  a  note;  it  was  not  fair  to  me — 
to  any  of  us. " 

"  Is  that  your  opinion,  Flora?'*  cried  Henriette,  angrily. 
"  You  say  that  because  you  yourself  are  always  talking  of  what 
you  are  doing — always  making  a  fuss  about  the  hours  you 
spend  in  writing,  and  trying  to  make  your  friends  believe  in 
the  results  which  never  come,  and — 

"  Henriette,  I  should  like  a  cup  of  tea/'  called  out  Mme. 
Urach,  to  put  an  end,  if  possible,  to  the  angry  altercation. 

Henriette  instantly  obeyed  the  behest. 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Flora,  if  you  think  I  am  not  glad  that 
I  have  talent  for  music,"  said  Kathe,  gently,  trying  not  to  fur- 
ther irritate  by  her  tone  of  voice  her  proud  half-sister,  who  was 
gazing  at  Henriette 's  retreating  figure  with  glaring  eyes  and 
culling  lip.  "  I  am  very  glad,  and  it  would  be  ungrateful  of 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  91 

me  not  to  acknowledge  it,  it  gives  me  so  much  pleasure.  I 
ought  to  have  spoken  about  it  directly  I  came,  especially  as  the 
reason  I  arrived  a  month  sooner  than  you  expected  me  was 
simply  because  my  harmony  master  was  obliged  to  leave  Dres- 
den some  weeks  before  the  long  holidays  commenced;  and  as  I 
would  like  to  be  back  when  he  returns  home,  I  hurried  off  here 
directly  he  had  gone. " 

At  this  moment  Fraulein  von  Grise  was  obliged  to  quil  thb 
room  to  speak  with  her  father,  who  had  just  arrived  and  asked 
for  his  daughter.  The  counselor  followed  her,  to  pay  his  re- 
spects to  the  old  colonel. 

When  they  were  alone,  Flora  went  over  to  the  piano,  took 
up  the  piece  of  music  Kathe  had  been  playing,  and  examined 
the  title-page.  Kathe  noticed  that  her  hand  trembled,  that 
her  bosom  heaved,  and  that  she  seemed  very  nervous,  as  she 
pointed  to  the  colored  page,  and  asked: 

"  I  suppose  you  have  been  greatly  complimented  on  this?" 

"  By  whom?"  returned  Kathe.  "  My  master  is  as  reticent 
with  his  praise  as  Madame  Lucas,  and  no  one  else  knows  it  is 
by  me.  You  see  the  composer's  name  is  not  there." 

"  I  conclude  the  thing  sells  well?" 

Kathe  was  silent. 

"  Speak  out  the  truth.  Has  more  than  one  edition  ap- 
peared?" 

"Well— yes." 

Flora  flung  the  piece  on  the  piano. 

"  That  renown  and  fame  should  come  to  a  fat,  apple-cheeked 
girl  in  her  teens,  while  others  struggle  and  fight  for  it  for 
years — often  even  die  before  they  are  known — is  hard!"  she 
said,  bitterly,  as  she  began  again  to  pace  the  floor.  "  But 
what  does  it  matter  in  reality?"  she  said,  suddenly  standing 
still,  and  her  face  brightening.  ' '  The  most  brilliant  rocket 
leaves  no  trace  in  the  air  after  its  explosion — a  few  bright 
sparks,  and  it  is  finished  and  done  with,  while  the  hidden  fire 
in  Vesuvius  is  growing  hotter  and  hotter.  The  world  knows 
the  fire  is  there,  and  when  flames  burst  forth  at  last,  then  it  is 
that  men's  hearts  tremble  and  shake.  Very  well,  so  it  is. 
Tiro  of  our  family  have  stepped  forth  now  into  the  arena  of 
publicity.  We  will  wait  and  see,  Kathe,  which  of  us  two  will 
succeed  best." 

"  Certainly  not  I,"  exclaimed  Kathe,  merrily,  pushing  back 
a,  stray  curl  from  her  brow.  "  I  have  no  wish  or  desire  to 
enter  such  an  arena.  Not  that  I  am  insensible  to  the  delights 
of  success;  1  can  imagine  nothing  more  enjoyable  than  the 
power  of  moving  others'  hearts  at  will  by  the  sheer  foree  of 


92  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

one's  own  talents — that  I  would  not  give  up  for  all  the  world 
—but  to  live  for  and  only  fame?  No,  no;  there  is  far  too 
much  happiness  to  be  gained  without  it  in  private  life.  What 
would  be  the  use  of  fame  to  me,  if  it  left  me  alone?" 

"  Ha,  ha!  that's  the  secret  of  your  homely  bringing  up,  the 
quintessence  of  your  education!  As  your  Lucas  did,  so  will 
you — you  intend  to  marry. " 

Flora  laughed  a  mocking,  hollow  laugh  that  added  spite  to 
her  remark. 

Henriette  blushed  to  the  roots  of  her  hair;  even  her  throat 
partook  of  the  same  crimson  hue,  as  she  replied,  indignantly, 
in  a  low  voice : 

**  You  sneer  at  marriage  as  though  you  had  never  thought 
of  marrying  yourself — yet — 

Mora  stretched  out  her  hand  to  check  the  coming  words. 

"  Not  a  syllable  more,  please/'  she  said,  eutreatingly. 
Then,  as  she  laid  her  hand  across  her  bosom  and  shook  her 
head,  she  went  on:  "Yes,  my  dear,  I  was  foolish  and  blind 
enough  once  to  be  caught  in  the  net;  but,  thank  God,  my 
head  is  not  entangled  in  its  meshes,  and  will  be  able  to  give  me 
back  my  freedom." 

"  Have  you  any  conscience  at  all,  Flora?" 

"  A  very  sensitive  one,  my  dear,  which  reproaches  me  again 
and  again  for  allowing  myself  to  be  caught  as  I  was.  I  sup- 
pose you  have  read  your  Bible  enough  to  know  that  we  shall 
each  have  to  answer  for  the  use  we  make  of  our  talents.  Look 
at  me,  Kathe,  and  then  say  if  you  really  believe  I  am  likely  to 
pass  my  life  as  the  wife  of  a  simple  doctor,  poring  over  the 
soup-kettle  and  knitting  stockings  from  morning  till  night? 
And  for  him  too?" 

She  moved  her  head  in  the  direction  of  the  tea-room,  where 
Dr.  Bruck  sat  all  alone  at  the  table,  with  a  journal  in  his 
hand,  evidently  so  occupied  with  his  own  thoughts  that  he  had 
not  even  noticed  Henriette'a  departure  from  her  post  at  the 
tea-urn.  Groups  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  scattered 
through  the  handsomely  furnished  rooms,  chatting  and  laugh- 
ing to  each  other;  only  the  young  doctor  sat  apart  and  alone. 

"  Do  you  see,  not  one  of  the  gentlemen  take  any  notice  of 
him,"  said  Flora,  lowering  her  voice.  "  They  avoid  him,  and 
rightly  too.  He  has  deceived  both  me  and  the  world.  The 
brilliant  reputation  he  made  was  a  mere  sham!" 

With  which  remark  she  retired  to  her  own  study,  to  avoid 
meeting  Colonel  von  Grise,  who  was  coming  toward  the  music- 
room,  accompanied  by  his  daughter  and  the  counselor. 

After  a  formal  introduction  to  Kathe,  and  a  few  compli- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOK'S  HOUSE.  93 

mentary  speeches  on  her  charming  musical  talent,  the  old  gen- 
tleman begged  the  young  girl  to  favor  him  with  a  little  more 
music. 

Simply  and  willingly  Rathe  obeyed  his  request  immediately, 
this  time  choosing  one  of  Chopin's  exquisite  productions  in 
preference  to  anything  of  her  own. 

As  she  raised  her  eyes  from  her  notes  at  its  conclusion,  she 
was  rather  startled  at  the  earnest,  passionate  expression  of  her 
guardian's  face  as  he  gazed  at  her.  Never  before  had  she 
noticed  him  looking  at  her  like  that.  It  was  not  the  same 
kind,  affectionate  look  with  which  he  had  given  her  bonbons 
as  a  child,  or  the  bouquet  he  had  brought  with  him  from  town 
only  yesterday. 

When  she  rose  from  the  piano,  he  took  one  of  her  hands  in 
his.  and  passed  his  arm  around  her  waist. 

"  What  has  come  over  you,  Kathe?"  he  whispered,  with  an 
earnestness  of  tone  she  had  never  heard  before  when  he  ad- 
dressed her.  "  You  remind  me  strangely  of  Clotilde;  but  you 
are  more  lovely  and  more  gifted!" 

She  put  her  hand  to  her  side  to  remove  his  arm;  but  he 
seized  that  hand  also,  and  held  it  in  a  vise  as  if  he  would  never 
willingly  let  it  go  again. 

To  the  friends  loitering  around,  it  was  a  very  simple  action 
that  the  guardian  should  thus  caress  his  ward  in  token  of  his 
delight  at  the  display  of  her  musical  powers;  but  Kathe  did 
not  like  it,  and  passively  submitted  simply  because  the  look 
and  action  together  had  half  frightened  her. 

Henriette's  pale  cheeks  colored  deeply;  she  smiled  a  con- 
tented, peculiar  smile,  and  did  not  answer  as  Dr.  Bruck  rose 
silently,  shook  hands  with  her,  and  disappeared  from  the  room, 
while  every  one  else  was  occupied  with  Kathe  and  her  wonder- 
ful playing. 


PART  II. 


CHAPTER   I. 

SINCE  the  memorable  evening  of  Kathe's  debut  as  a  pianist 
a  week  had  come  and  gone;  "  a  week  of  terrible  fatigue/'  old 
Mme.  Urach  remarked  with  a  sigh  as  she  rang  for  her  maid 
and  began  finding  fault  with  a  dress  she  was  to  wear  in  the 
evening.  The  train  was  too  short,  the  lace  not  wide  enough, 
the  sleeves  too  full,  etc.  Several  grand  evening  parties  had 


94  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  SOUSE. 

been  given  by  some  of  their  friends  high  in  office,  and  what 
with  afternoon  coffee  drinkings,  one  or  two  dinners,  and  an 
entertainment  at  the  palace,  in  which  Flora  was  to  recite  some 
verses  of  her  own  illustrative  of  a  tableau  vivant,  "  they  had 
hardly  time  to  breathe/' 

Henriette  was  too  weak  and  too  ill  to  join  in  the  gayety,  and 
Kathe  remained  at  home  with  her,  refusing  every  entreaty  to 
go  out,  though  often  warmly  invited  and  strongly  urged  by 
Mme.  TJrach  to  do  so. 

The  two  young  girls  drank  tea  together  in  the  cozy  music- 
room,  and  Kathe  exerted  all  her  powers  to  try  and  amuse  the 
invalid  and  distract  her  thoughts  from  the  festivities  her  soul 
longed  for. 

"  I  love  society,  Kathe,"  she  would  say,  plaintively,  when 
the  carriage  had  rolled  away  with  madame  and  Flora  and  the 
two  were  left  alone.  "  I  feel  wretched  without  it,  and  I  think 
it  hard  sometimes  that  I  am  ill  aud  misshapen.  Grandmamma 
lias  thought  me  to  like  excitement  and  the  pomp  and  show  of 
rank  and  wealth;  it  is  hard,  Kathe,  very  hard,  that  I  am  de- 
barred from  enjoying  it  just  now,  though  I  hate  and  despise 
the  humbug  aud  falseness  of  society  more  than  I  can  tell 
you. "  Then  her  mood  would  change  arid  she  would  say  eoax- 
ingly:  "  Go  and  play  for  me,  Kathe  dear;  your  music  makes 
me  feel  happier,  and  I  am  a  wretch  to  grumble  at  my  hard 
lot  when  you  are  so  kind  and  good  to  me." 

And  Kathe  would  go  to  the  piano,  and  play  everything  she 
could  think  of  to  amuse  aud  interest  her  suffering  invalid  sis- 
ter, and  remove  from  her  mind  the  depressing  effects  of  the 
contrast  between  her  own  weak  state  and  plain  appearance, 
and  Flora's  brilliant  beauty. 

One  morning,  a  few  days  after  the  counselor's  departure  for 
Berlin  on  business,  a  superb  bouquet  of  hot-house  flowers  ar- 
rived for  each  of  the  sisters.  When  the  lid  of  the  box  was 
opened  and  the  contents  distributed  according  to  the  name 
attached  to  each  nosegay,  old  Mme.  Urach  frowned  ominously. 
For  Henriette  and  Flora  the  counselor  had  chosen  beautiful 
camellias  and  sweet-smelling  violets,  but  for  Kathe  a  daintily 
arranged  mixture  of  orange-flowers  and  myrtle.* 

At  first  the  old  lady  gave  no  heed  to  the  peculiar  distinction 
of  flowers  between  Kathe 's  bouquet  and  those  of  her  sisters, 
but  when  Flora,  who  was  present  when  the  box  arrived,  laugh- 
ingly pointed  out  the  significance  of  the  gift  to  the  youngest^ 

*  In  Germany  myrtle  is  significant  of  love  and  marriage. 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  9rf 

then  It  was  that  Mme.  Urach  frowned  ominously  and  looked 
very  displeased. 

"  Keally,  grandmamma,  you  surely  can  not  imagine  that 
after  the  huge  sums  of  money  Moriz  has  spent  to  be  ennobled 
he  would  remain  a  widower,  and  let  his  name  die  out?"  cried 
Flora,  with  aggravating  coolness.  "He  is  comparatively 
young,  is  handsome,  rich  and — noble!  Kathe  won't  refuse 
him,  that  I  know  for  certain." 

In  the  meantime  Kathe  had  carried  off  her  bouquet,  untied 
the  wire  around  the  flowers,  sprinkled  them  with  fresh  water, 
and  placed  them  on  the  work-table  in  her  room,  without  being 
in  the  least  conscious  of  their  significant  import,  and  innocent 
of  any  other  sentiment  about  them  but  pure  pleasure  at  the 
kind  thoughtf  ulness  of  her  absent  guardian  in  sending  to  her, 
and  each  of  his  sisters,  so  pretty  a  present.  But  old  Mme. 
Urach  was  very  miserable.  A  phantom  had  arisen  to  haunt 
the  villa,  whose  presence  she  would  have  banished  if  she  could, 
but  it  seemed  to  follow  her  everywhere,  to  wander  through  the 
costly  furnished  rooms,  to  creep  into  the  shadows  of  the  mass- 
ive bronze  ornaments,  to  glide  over  the  rare  porcelain  cups  and 
vases,  each  of  which  had  been  bought  with  rolls  of  bank-notes, 
and  was  the  envy  of  all  her  friends;  even  to  hover  around  the 
back  of  her  favorite  seat  in  the  winter  garden  and  imbitter 
the  pleasure  of  all  she  cared  for  in  life.  What  was  to  be  done? 
The  old  lady  considered  the  question  as  if  she  were  forty  in- 
stead of  seventy  and  had  half  a  life-time  before  her.  The 
counselor  had  no  right  to  marry  again;  she  would  forbid  it, 
and  he  would  have  to  obey.  Did  he  not  owe  everything  he 
possessed  to  her?  It  was  through  her  that  he  had  risen  in  the 
world,  through  her  influence  and  by  her  connections  that  he 
had  obtained  his  present  enviable  position  in  society.  Had 
she  not  superintended  the  furnishing  of  the  villa,  and  by  her 
exquisite  taste  so  arranged  everything  that  the  place  had  been 
converted  into  so  well-appointed  a  residence  that  even  th& 
court  circle  visited  there  with  pleasure?  Besides,  had  it  not 
been  a  great  sacrifice  on  her  part  when  she  consented  to  head 
his  establishment  and  give  tone  and  refinement  to  his  some- 
what plebeian  household?  And  now  that  she  had  succeeded 
to  her  heart's  content  in  all  that  she  had  undertaken  to  do, 
was  she  to  be  ruthlessly  displaced  from  the  head  of  his  house- 
hold by  a  young  second  wife  who  would  consider  all  these 
magnificent  apartments  as  belonging  to  her,  perhaps  even  ap- 
portion to  "  grandmamma  "  the  use  of  one  or  two  rooms  as  a 
great  favor?  No,  no,  it  should  not  be;  not  even  Flora,  the 
haughty  daughter  of  her  only  child,  would  she  willingly  seo 


96  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

placed  in  the  position  she  herself  had  held  so  many  years;  hoi 
much  less  then  the  granddaughter  of  the  old  miller,  Flora's 
step -sister!  The  girl  should  go  back  to  Dresden  as  soon  as 
possible;  that  would  be  the  first  and  wisest  step  to  take  to 
avoid  such  a  calamity  befalling  her,  and  then  the  old  lady  told 
herself  "  all  would  be  well  again." 

The  next  opportunity  Mme.  Urach  had  of  a  little  conversa- 
tion with  Kathe  she  drew  the  girl  on  to  speak  of  her  home  in 
Dresden,  expressed  great  admiration  at  her  beautiful  playing, 
and  lamented  in  strong  terms  the  harm  so  many  weeks'  idle- 
ness would  do  just  now  at  her  age.  She  even  hinted  that  for 
the  sake  of  not  losing  time  she  herself  would  accompany 
Kathe  back  to  Dresden  shortly,  and  arrange  for  extra  lessons 
from  some  celebrated  foreign  professor  who  had  just  arrived 
in  that  town. 

Kathe  made  no  answer  to  this  sudden  show  of  interest  in 
her  music  from  the  old  lady.  She  determined  to  remain  on 
at  the  villa  till  Dr.  Brack  had  given  his  consent  to  Henriette 
returning  home  with  her.  As  yet  he  had  said  nothing,  per- 
haps because  his  patient  seemed  daily  to  grow  more  weak  and 
excitable.  Every  morning  he  called  to  see  her  at  the  same 
hour.  Each  of  the  girls  had  a  small  sitting-room  to  herself 
adjoining  one  the  other,  with  a  communicating  door  between, 
and  Kathe  could  hear  him  talking  brightly  to  Henriette, 
sometimes  breaking  forth  into  a  hearty  merry  laugh  that  was 
catching  in  its  influence,  and  made  the  young  girl  long  to  go 
in  and  join  in  the  merriment.  Dr.  Brack  in  Henriette's 
sitting-room  was  quite  a  different  man  to  the  grave,  thoughtful 
personage  he  appeared  to  be  in  the  drawing-room  in  the  even- 
ing. 

It  pleased  and  delighted  Kathe  always  to  hear  him  laugh, 
but  she  rarely  spoke  to  him  herself,  never  joined  in  the  con- 
versation through  her  open  door,  though  she  could  see  him 
walking  up  and  down  the  room  as  she  sat  at  her  table,  working 
or  reading.  She  had  remarked  more  than  once  that  Henriette 
always  retired  to  her  own  sitting-room  as  the  hour  drew  near 
for  the  daily  medical  visit,  and  that  it  seemed  to  vex  and 
irritate  her  if  she  were  followed. 

The  person  Kathe  chiefly  conversed  with  at  this  time  was 
Dr.  Brack's  aunt,  the  curate's  widow,  whom  she  constantly 
met  in  Susanne's  room  when  she  went  to  pay  the  old  house- 
keeper her  evening  visit.  From  her  Kathe  learned  that  she 
had  taken  charge  of  her  sister's  orphan  boy  from  the  time  he 
was  eight  years  old ;  and  that  ever  since  he  had  been  as  dear  to 
ker  as  a  child,  and  the  sun  and  joy  of  her  life. 


EST  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSD.  9? 

Kathe  made  it  a  rule  always  to  accompany  the  old  lady  to 
her  home — guiding  har  steps  carefully  along  the  river-side,  till 
they  reached  the  rustic  bridge,  where  the  light  burning  in  the 
old-fashioned  porch  shone  broad  and  clear,  and  made  the  few 
yards  to  the  house,  however  dark  it  was  around,  clear  and  safe 
for  the  most  timid  walker.  Kathe  used  to  wait  and  watch  the 
widow  go  up  the  path  and  enter  the  porch,  and  sometimes  she 
would  linger  on  the  bridge  till  she  heard  the  doctor's  manly 
voice  call  out  from  his  room,  as  he  sprung  forward  to  meet 
her:  "  Is  that  you,  aunt?"  Then  she  would  speed  away  out 
of  the  lamp-light,  and  rush  along  the  avenue  so  quickly  that 
she  would  have  to  stop  and  grow  cool  and  regain  her  breath 
before  entering  the  villa,  with  the  unconcerned  manner  and 
bearing  befitting  her  appearance  after  a  visit  to  old  Susanne  at 
the  Mill-house. 

The  counselor  had  been  gone  a  week  or  ten  days,  when  the 
news  came  that  he  had  sold  his  factory.  It  had  been  com- 
municated by  letter  to  Mme.  Urach,  who  was  so  overpowered 
with  joy  that  she  put  aside  her  dignity  and  went  straight  to 
Henriette's  room  in  her  dressing-gown,  where  she  knew  the 
three  girls  would  most  likely  by  together.  Sitting  down  in 
the  nearest  arm-chair,  she  said: 

"  Thank  God,  my  dears,  Moriz  has  got  rid  of  that  factory! 
and  on  such  brilliant  terms,  too,  that  he  says  he  is  quite  aston- 
ished at  his  own  good  fortune;"  and  she  laid  her  still  beautiful 
hand  on  the  table  and  looked  around  with  a  very  contented 
smile  hovering  over  her  lips.  "  He  has  by  this  means  put  an 
end  to  his  business  affairs,  and  of  course  can  now  turn  his 
back  on  those  horrid  men  he  was  obliged  to  associate  with  in 
business.  Good  gracious!  when  I  think  of  the  people  we  have 
had  to  dinner  sometimes  it  would  have  been  more  becoming  if 
they  had  dined  in  the  kitchen.  Ah,  my  dears,  what  agony  I 
have  gone  through  with  them! — but  it  is  all  over  now,  all 
over,  and  I  am  very  thankful. " 

Kathe  was  standing  at  the  window  from  whence  the  factory 
could  be  seen,  with  its  huge  yard  and  overlapping  chimney. 

"  Look  here,  madame!"  the  girl  suddenly  exclaimed;  "  the 
yard  is  full  of  men  and  women,  and  even  children — what  can 
they  mean?"  and  she  pointed  to  the  distant  factory,  in  front 
of  which  numbers  of  men  and  women  were  assembled,  talking 
and  gesticulating  in  the  wildest  manner. 

"  They  have  heard  the  news,  that  is  what  it  is."  replied  the 

old  lady,  smiling  and  drawing  toward  the  window.     "  The 

coachman  informed  me  when  he  came  up  just  now  that  there 

ie  great  excitement  down  there — the  hands  are  furious, 

4 


98  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

the  establishment  has  been  bought  by  a  company  of  Jews: 
•the  workmen  will  reap  now  what  they  have  sown.  Moriz 
closed  with  this  offer  very  suddenly,  though  he  had  an  affec- 
tion for  the  factory  that  I  never  could  understand;  still,  as  he 
has  lately  had  bothers  with  the  men,  he  has  consented  to 
throw  it  up  entirely,  and  quite  right,  too." 

"  I  don't  agree  with  you,  grandmamma;  it  will  look  as  if 
he  feared  for  his  own  power  over  the  men,"  remarked  Flora, 
<vith  curling  lip;  "if  I  had  been  he  I  would  not  have  sold  the 
place  just  now  for  millions.  The  fellows  should  have  been 
made  to  understand  that  their  grumblings  and  demands  were 
useless.  My  blood  boils  as  I  think  that  it  will  now  be  said 
that  those  threatening  letters  to  me  were  the  cause  of  this 
sale." 

"  Don't  distress  yourself,  Flora!  No  one  will  impute  the 
sale  to  your  influence — they  all  know  the  courage,  the  soldier's 
courage  and  confidence  you  possess;  one  can  see  it  flashing  in 
your  face  a  hundred  yards  off!"  said  Henriette,  mockingly. 

Flora  took  no  notice  of  this  malicious  remark;  sho  rarely 
allowed  herself  to  be  annoyed  with  anything  Henriette  said 
lately.  She  smiled  now  as  she  repressed  a  yawn,  and  moved 
toward  the  door.  Mme.  Urach  also  rose  to  dress  for  the  early 
dinner,  but  turned  when  she  reached  the  threshold  of  the  door, 
to  say:  "  Doctor  Bruck  thinks  a  little  fresh  air  will  do  you 
good  to-day,  Kathe — he  says  you  must  go  out. " 

"  Yes,  I  know,  and  I  am  going  as  far  as  the  forest,  to  smell 
the  fresh  resin  from  the  fir-trees — I  long  to  breathe  the  pure 
forest  air. " 

"  Then  I  will  invite  myself  to  go  with  you,"  said  Flora. 
"  I  also  want  air — air,  to  enable  me  to  bear  the  burden  of  ad- 
verse circumstances." 

She  offered  her  arm  to  her  grandmother  with  a  queenly  air 
to  help  her  upstairs,  and  both  ladies  left  the  room. 

Henriette  stamped  her  foot  with  rage  as  the  door  closed, 
and  refrained  from  a  fit  of  tears  with  the  greatest  difficulty  at 
being  thus  forced  into  having  her  beautiful  sister  as  a  walking 
companion. 

"  I  don't  want  her,"  she  muttered  to  Kathe;  "  she  will 
deck  herself  out  and  look  lovelier  than  ever  and  will  spoil  our 
walk — and — and — I  wish  she  wouldn't  come." 

"  Never  mind;  we  will  try  and  enjoy  it  all  the  same,  dar- 
ling, ' '  was  Kathe's  soothing  reply. 

ft  was  a  lovely  April  day.  The  sun  was  shining  clear  and 
aright  in  the  blue  cloudless  heavens;  the  air  was  soft  and 
w&rm  and  sweet  with  the  perfume  of  wild  violets  along  the 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  99 

road  leading  to  the  forest,  and  in  the  forest  itself  the  sun 
gleamed  so  joyously  through  every  branch  and  twig,  and 
streamed  in  such  broad  glittering  rays  from  between  the 
knotty  trunks  on  the  greensward  under  the  trees  that  it  almost 
seemed  as  if  some  giant  hand  had  lifted  the  dark  canopy  from 
overhead  and  left  the  usually  somber  paths  and  walks  exposed 
to  the  beautiful  shining  sunlight.  Thousands  of  tiny  pale 
green  shoots  were  sprouting  out  from  the  twigs  and  branches 
of  the  weather-beaten  trees,  and  underneath  in  damp  mossy 
nooks^the  lovely  little  blue-bell  raised  its  delicate  head. 

Kathe  loved  the  little  flower,  and  while  Flora  and  Henriette 
sauntered  on  toward  the  fir  valley  she  lingered  behind  to  pluck 
&  handful  of  the  blossoms. 

Usually  the  forest  was  still  and  desolate,  and  one  might 
wander  for  hours  under  its  shade  without  meeting  a  soul  or 
encountering  a  living  thing.  But  this  happened  to  be  one  of 
the  days  when  the  poor  of  the  neighborhood  were  allowed  to 
congregate  together  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  as  much  of 
the  dried  and  decayed  wood  as  they  could  carry  to  their  homes. 

As  Kathe  hunted  about  for  her  favorite  flower  she  heard 
voices  in  the  distance,  and  she  had  only  just  remembered  the 
fact  that  this  was  the  "  poor  people's  day,"  as  it  was  called, 
when  raising  her  head  she  saw  close  before  her  a  woman  in  the 
act  of  breaking  off  a  fine  strong  branch  from  one  of  the  trees. 
Was  it  because  she  was  caught  with  a  green  branch  in  her 
hand,  or  because  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  young  girl 
startled  her  in  her  dishonest  act  that  she  cast  a  lowering, 
angry  glance  on  Kathe,  and  muttered  some  imprecation  as  she 
pushed  back  the  linen  kerchief  from  her  untidy  head? 

The  look  surprised  but  did  not  frighten  Kathe.  She  stooped 
again  to  gather  a  group  of  anemones  at  her  feet,  when  a  weak 
but  shrill  cry  for  help  fell  on  her  ear,  succeeded  by  an  indis- 
tinct tumult  of  many  voices. 

The  woman  listened  for  a  moment,  then  flung  down  the 
branch  and  darted  through  the  brushwood  toward  the  place 
from  whence  the  noise  came.  Again  Kathe  heard  the  shrill 
trembling  cry,  and  recognized  Henriette's  voice.  Quick  as  an 
arrow  she  rushed  after  the  woman,  tearing  her  dress  as  she 
made  her  way  through  the  brushwood,  and  getting  many  a 
knock  from  the  on-bounding  branches  the  woman's  powerful 
arms  struck  aside,  but  she  readied  the  spot  at  last. 

The  first  thing  she  saw  as  she  emerged  from  the  thicket  was 
a  group  of  women  and  ragged  boys  standing  under  a  pine- 
tree,  talking  and  gesticulating  in  the  wildest  manner.  The 
glance  showed,  her  Flora's  white  felt  hat  with  its  droop- 


100  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

ing  blue  feather,  forming  a  striking  center  to  the  dirty  ker- 
chiefs and  straggling  hair  of  the  women  around  her. 

"  Let  the  dwarf  alone,  Friz!"  screamed  one  of  the  women. 

"  But  she  is  screaming  like  mad/'  replied  a  boy's  voice. 

"  Let  her  yell — none  can  hear  her/'  insisted  the  woman, 
vho  had  a  repulsive  face  with  small  luring  eyes  and  a  tall 
gaunt  frame. 

Then  Flora  spoke,  but  Kathe  could  not  hear  what  she  said. 

An  insolent  derisive  laugh  answered  her. 

"  Get  out  o'  your  way!"  shouted  the  big  woman.  "  D'ye 
think  we'll  do  it,  may  be?  This  place  is  free  for  all  to  come 
and  go  in.  The  poorest  beggar  as  well  as  such  as  you,  f  rau- 
lein,  and  I'll  see  who'll  dare  keep  me  away.  Look  here,  good 
people,  we  only  see  her  face  when  she  be  sitting  in  her  carriage 
with  the  horses  a-tearing  along,  and  we  be  glad  to  clear  out  of 
her  way.  A  beautiful  woman  you  be,  fraulein — even  yer 
enemie  '11  say  that — and  all's  real,  too,  no  paint  nor  nothing; 
yer  skin'3  like  velvet — I  shouldn't  mind  biting  it — "  and  she 
stooped  her  head,  and  pushed  her  face  under  the  white  hat. 

The  woman  whom  Kathe  had  followed  pushed  her  way  into 
the  midst  of  the  crowd,  and  pointing  to  the  young  girl  behind 
called  out,  in  a  coarse  tone : 

"  There  be  another!" 

All  turned  to  look  at  Kathe,  thus  giving  the  latter  an  op- 
portunity of  seeing  Flora  leaning  against  a  tree,  her  cheeks 
and  lips  white  as  snow,  and  her  whole  figure  trembling. 

"  She  be  nothing  to  us,"  cried  a  boy,  and  turned  his  back 
on  the  young  girl;  th<*  women  followed  his  example,  closing  in 
again  round  Flora. 

"Kathe!"  called  Henriette  from  behind  this  crowd  of 
women,  but  a  rough  hand  was  placed  across  her  mouth  to 
prevent  her  speaking.  In  a  moment  two  or  three  of  the  boys 
were  pushed  half  over,  and  before  the  women  had  time  to  re- 
eist  the  force  of  her  strong  young  arms,  Kathe  had  elbowed 
her  way  to  her  sister's  side. 

"  What  do  you  all  want?"  she  asked,  in  a  loud  firm  voice, 
facing  the  dirty  women  boldly. 

For  a  moment  the  angry  women  were  awed  and  startled — 
but  only  for  a  moment — the  next  they  saw  it  was  only  a 
young,  bright-looking  girl,  and  a  loud  laugh  greeted  her  ques- 
tion. 

"Just  hear  how  short  and  sharp  she  asks,  as  if  she  were 
the  judge  hisself,"  screamed  the  giantess. 

"  And  looks  as  proud  as  if  she  had  descended  from  the  three 
Holy  Kings,"  broke  in  the  woman  whom  Kathe  had  first 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  101 

seen.  "  Why,  your  own  grandmother  came  out  of  my  village, 
and  never  had  shoe  or  stocking  to  her  feet  when  a  little  un — 
and  your  grandpa,  too,  used  to  carry  hods  o'  mortar  for  old — " 

"  Do  you  think  I  don't  know  it,  or  that  I  am  ashamed  of 
it?"  interrupted  Kathe,  quietly  and  calmly,  though  her  earnest 
face  was  pale  and  her  lips  trembled. 

"  No  one  ought  better.  Has  his  money  done  you  any  good — 
all  his  heaps  o'  money?"  cried  another  of  the  women,  pusUng 
herself  close  to  Kathe.  Seizing  her  silk  dress,  and  rubbing  it 
between  her  dirty  fingers,  she  went  on:  "  Ah,  a  lovely  dress, 
a  dress  for  town  on  Suadays,  and  you  a-wearing  it  in  the 
middle  of  the  week  in  the  forest,  to  be  torn  by  the  branches. 
All  very  well  for  you — the  money's  there  in  plenty — baskets 
full  of  it  was  found  when  the  old  un  died.  But  how  did  he 
get  it?  You'd  better  not  ask,  fraulein.  How  should  it  mat- 
ter to  you  that  your  grandpa  bought  up  all  the  corn  away 
from  the  poor  and  stored  it  up  in  his  granaries,  and  then  he 
said  that  the  price  of  grain  must  go  up,  up,  far  too  high  for 
us,  before  he  would  sell  one  bit,  though  the  people  were 
starving — " 

11  It's  false!"  broke  in  Kathe;  "  quite  false." 

"  Ha!  false,  is  it?  Is  it  false,  too,  that  we  are  being  thrown 
into  the  clutches  of  those  who  will  grudge  us  our  last  potato? 
Trouble  will  come  o'  this,  I  can  tell  ye.  My  girl  says  she  will 
drown  herself  sooner  nor  work  for  usurers. " 

"  And  my  brother  says  he  will  shoot  them  over  the  hemp 
first  time  they  appear,"  shouted  out  a  small,  ill-grown  lad. 

"  Ay,  ay,  as  he  did  the  pigeons  belonging  to  the  pale  little 
dwarf  there,"  remarked  another,  pointing  to  Henriette,  who 
was  clinging  to  Kathe,  exhausted  with  fright  and  fatigue. 

The  loud  barking  of  a  dog  close  by  silenced  the  shouts  for  a 
while.  Flora  sprung  up  from  her  crouching  position  on  the 
ground,  the  haughty  expression  usual  to  her  returning  to  her 
face. 

"  "What  have  I  to  do  with  the  sale  of  the  factory?"  she 
asked,  contemptuously.  "  Settle  that  with  your  late  master 
the  counselor — he  will  know  how  to  answer  your  insolence; 
and  now  out  of  my  way!  Your  shameful  behavior  will  be 
punished  severely — of  that  you  may  be  sure." 

She  stretched  out!  her  hand  to  wave  the  women  off,  but  the 
tall  gaunt  woman  seized  it,  and  heartily  shook  the  lily-white 
hand  as  if  it  had  been  held  forth  in  sign  of  friendship,  while 
an  evil  smile  flitted  round  her  ugly  mouth. 

"  Ha!  ha!  fraulein,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  coarse  chuckle; 
'''  we've  got  back  our  courage  and  proud  manner  because  a 


102  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

dog  barked  over  there!"  she  pointed  over  her  shoulder, 
"  That's  old  Sonneman's  terrier;  I  know  his  voice  well 
enough.  The  old  man  is  stone  deaf,  and  his  dog  won't  leave 
him.  They're  a-going  to  the  village  up  yonder,  as  they  do 
every  day.  Be  quiet;  they  won't  come  this  way.  So  it  doesn't 
matter  to  you,  a  beautiful  young  woman,  that  the  factory  is 
sold,  eh?  Who  would  think  it  or  believe  it?  One  has  only  to 
look  at  you  to  see  the  whole  thing.  You  and  the  old  mad  amp 
rule  and  command  and  make  the  counselor  obey  you  both, 
and  now  he  is  rich  enough,  you  think  the  poor  people  who 
have  earned  him  his  money  are  to  be  chucked  over  just  like 
chaff  from  wheat.  No,  no;  we  can't  alter  it,  of  course,  but 
we'll  be  revenged  on  you,  my  beauty;"  and  as  the  woman 
stooped  her  tall  frame  to  peer  into  Flora's  face  her  eyes  glit- 
tered with  the  cruelty  of  a  cat's. 

Flora  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 

"  Good  God!  they  mean  to  murder  us!"  she  murmured  be- 
tween her  trembling  lips. 

The  women  who  heard  her  laughed  out  loud. 

"  No  such  thing,  fraulein!"  said  the  tall  one;  "  we  are  not 
so  stupid;  we  should  gain  nothing  by  it  but  that,"  and  she 
made  an  expressive  gesture  round  her  brawny  throat.  "  You 
shall  only  have  a  small  punishment. " 

Uncovering  her  face  and  nervously  dragging  at  her  pocket, 
Flora  drew  forth  her  purse,  opened  it,  and  cast  the  contents, 
silver  and  gold,  on  the  ground.  The  women  did  not  move, 
but  one  or  two  of  the  nearest  boys  sprung  forward  to  pick  up 
the  shining  pieces. 

"  Let  it  alone!"  exclaimed  the  big  woman,  planting  her 
tall  person  over  the  scattered  money.  "  There  is  time  for 
that  later  on — later  on,  fraulein,"  and  she  turned  with  grim 
politeness  to  Flora.  "  First  your  punishment. " 

"  Touch  us  if  you  dare!"  said  Kathe,  standing  her  ground 
firmly,  though  both  sisters  were  trying  to  shelter  themselves 
behind  her. 

"You?  what  do  you  meddle  for?  and  why  shouldn't  I 
dare?  I  shall  only  get  a  week  or  two;  they  don't  give  more 
for  a  box  on  the  ears  or  a  few  scratches  on  the  face — and  those 
you  shall  have,  fraulein,  as  sure  as  I'm  alive,"  she  added,  ad- 
dressing Flora.  "  I'll  so  spoil  that  lovely  skin  o'  yourn  that 
you'll  never  forget  me;  you'll  get  a  face  as  nicely  marked  as  a 
tiger  in  a  menagerie." 

Quick  as  lightning  she  raised  her  hand  to  scratch  Flora's 
face  with  her  dirty  nails;  but  quick  as  she  was  Kathe  frus- 
trated her  intention  by  pushing:  her  away  with  such  force  that 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  103 

the  lost  her  balance  and  stumbled  up  against  two  or  three  of 
the  others  standing  by. 

"  Help!  help!"  screamed  Henriette,  with  excited  strength, 
while  Flora  flung  herself  down  by  the  tree,  and  hid  her  face 
among  its  gnarled  roots. 

"Help!"  shouted  Henriette  again,  with  all  her  remaining 
force,  as  the  women  seized  hold  of  Kathe,  tore  off  the  cape 
from  her  shoulders,  and  trod  her  hat  under  foot. 

One  of  them  had  just  grasped  a  long  plait  of  hair  which 
hung  down  her  back,  when  the  lad  who  had  again  covered 
Henriette's  mouth  with  his  hand,  suddenly  drew  it  away,  ex- 
claiming: 

"  Look!  look  at  her!  What's  the  matter?"  and,  dashing 
through  the  crowd,  escaped  into  the  forest. 

Blood  was  streaming  from  the  poor  girFs  mouth.  That 
last  effort  at  calling  for  help  had  been  too  much  for  her;  she 
had  ruptured  a  blood-vessel  with  the  cry. 

For  two  or  three  seconds  the  crowd  of  angry,  infuriated 
women  stared,  horrified  at  the  sight  of  the  suffering  girl, 
whose  pale  face,  with  the  life-blood  oozing  from  her  lips, 
looked  deathly  in  its  ashen  hue;  then,  with  one  accord,  they 
silently  retreated  into  the  shadow  of  the  dense  forest,  and  left 
the  three  girls  alone. 

Putting  her  arms  round  the  fainting  girl,  Kathe  gently  let 
herself  glide  to  the  ground,  and  supported  the  helpless  head  on 
her  bosom.  In  this  position  the  blood  ceased  to  now. 

"  Fetch  help  fast  as  you  can!"  sobbed  Kathe.  "  She  will 
die!  Oh,  be  quick!  be  quick!" 

"  Are  you  mad?"  said  Flora,  in  a  smothered  tone,  with  her 
hands  clasped  across  her  breast,  and  gazing,  terror-struck,  at 
the  pair  at  her  feet.  ' '  Would  you  have  me  throw  myself  into 
the  hands  of  those  wretches?  They  are  still  there,"  and  she 
shuddered  as  she  glanced  uneasily  toward  the  thicket,  from 
which  one  or  two  boys'  heads  appeared,  looking  eagerly  at  the 
gold  lying  on  the  ground.  "  I  will  not  stir  from  this  place 
alone.  We  must  try  and  get  Henriette  away  ourselves." 

Kathe  did  not  answer.  She  saw  it  was  useless  to  battle 
against  such  heartless  selfishness;  so,  pointing  to  Flora  to  help 
her  move  the  fainting  girl,  she  struggled  to  her  feet,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  lifting  the  small,  slight  form  in  her  arms,  rested  the 
head  on  her  shoulder,  and  carried  her  slowly  out  of  the  forest. 
Fearful  of  giving  her  the  slightest  shake  that  might  cause  a 
return  of  the  distressing  hemorrhage,  Kathe  carefully  wended 
her  way  over  the  smoothest  path,  standing  still  every  now  and 
again  to  watch  if  the  movement  was  painful  for  her  burden. 


104  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  Oh,  don't  stop!  don't  stop  till  we  are  within  call  for  aid- 
till  we  are  out  of  the  reach  of  those  murderous  wretches,  un- 
less you  wish  me  to  die  of  fright!"  entreated  Flora,  as  she 
walked  along  by  Kathe's  side  with  her  usual  proud  bearing 
but  stealthily  watching  every  bush  and  tree,  so  as  to  take 
flight  at  the  first  approach  of  one  of  the  "  wretches." 

"  What  has  become  of  her  boasted  courage,  of  the  '  soldier's 
courage  and  self-confidence  '  Henriette  was  taunting  her  with 
this  morning?"  thought  Kathe,  her  arms  aching  under  the 
weight  of  the  burden  she  carried.  "  It's  all  very  well  to  write 
about  woman's  strength  of  intellect  being  equal  to  man's;  she 
should  show,  by  womanly  acts  and  self-forgetf  ulness,  that  she 
is  capable  of  something  better  than — " 

The  thought  was  not  finished,  for  a  slight  movement  of 
Henriette's  attracted  her  attention  and  made  her  hasten  her 
steps  to  reach  home. 

CHAPTER  II. 

AT  last  they  stood  outside  the  forest,  hi  the  open  sunny 
field.  The  danger  of  pursuit  was  over,  the  town  was  visible 
before  them,  peasants  were  working  on  the  meadows  within 
the  sound  of  a  call  for  help,  and  the  road  leading  to  the  park 
and  villa  was  close  at  hand. 

But  Kathe's  eyes  were  riveted  on  a  spot  which  Flora  did  not 
notice — the  low,  sloping  roof,  with  its  high  chimney-pots  and 
gilded  weather-cock,  visible  through  the  apple-orchard  belong- 
ing to  the  house  on  the  forest-side.  She  saw  the  garden  gate 
leading  up  to  the  hall  door  was  wide  open.  It  was  much 
nearer  than  the  park  gate,  and  thither  Kathe  wended  her 
steps,  after  a  short  rest  under  a  wide-spreading  oak-tree. 

"  Where  are  you  going?"  demanded  Flora,  who  was  hasten- 
ing toward  the  villa. 

"  To  Doctor  Bruck's  house,"  was  the  quiet  reply.  "  It  it 
nearer  than  the  villa.  I  shall  be  able  to  lay  Henriette  on  a 
bed,  and  most  likely  the  doctor  himself  is  at  home  to  attend 
to  her." 

Flora  knit  her  brows  and  looked  angry;  but  whether  or  not 
she  feared  the  revengeful  woman's  reappearance,  or  shrunk 
from  walking  through  the  park  up  to  the  house  alone,  with 
her  bare  head  and  disordered  toilet,  she  made  no  resistance, 
but  silently  turned  and  followed  her  half-sister. 

The  field  was  passed  in  silence.  The  sun  shone  hot  and 
scorching  on  Kathe's  burning  temples.  Her  strength  was  be- 
to  fail;  the  way  was  rough,  and  the  fainting  girl  in 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  105 

her  arms  seemed  to  grow  heavier  and  heavier.  She  looked 
longingly  toward  the  house,  and  gathered  up  all  her  remaining 
force  to  accomplish  the  fifty  yards  or  so  that  still  had  to  be 
traversed  ere  reaching  a  place  of  rest.  She  looked  again,  and 
saw  a  man  in  his  shirt-sleeves  making  a  small  arhor  under  the 
shadow  of  one  of  the  trees;  the  widow,  standing  near  him,  a 
white  cap  on  her  head,  a  broad  linen  apron  half  covering  her 
black  dress,  in  her  hand  a  plate  of  black  bread  and  butter, 
:hat  was  evidently  intended  for  the  workman's  four  o'clock 
meal."  She  did  not  turn  her  head  toward  the  road,  or  she 
would  have  seen  Kathe  struggling  to  reach  the  orchard  with 
Henriette's  lifeless  form  in  her  arms. 

But  ere  Kathe  had  time  to  attract  her  attention  the  doctor 
appeared  at  the  corner  of  the  house. 

Bruck!"  rang  out  Flora's  clear,  musical  voice. 

He  stood  still  and  stared  for  a  second  at  the  advancing 
group,  as  if  he  could  not  believe  the  evidence  of  his  eyes;  the 
next  he  bounded  forward,  and,  with  a  few  long  strides,  was 
close  upon  them. 

"  What  has  happened?"  he  said,  breathlessly. 

"  I  have  been  mobbed  by  angry  women,"  replied  Flora, 
with  a  bitter  smile,  but  with  her  usual  cold,  indifferent  man- 
ner. "  The  vagabonds  were  in  earnest  when  they  threatened 
me — I  was  in  great  danger  from  their  violence,  and  the  poor 
child  there,"  pointing  to  Henriette,  "  raptured  a  blood-vessel 
from  fright  and  excitement." 

He  merely  glanced  at  her  to  see  if  she  was  unhurt — then 
stretched  out  his  arms,  and  tenderly  lifted  the  burden  from 
Kathe's  shoulder. 

"  You  have  exerted  yourself  beyond  your  strength,"  he  said, 
gently,  as  he  looked  into  the  girl's  heated  face;  she  was  trem- 
bling from  head  to  foot,  and  biting  her  lip  to  keep  back  the 
tears  as  she  clung  to  the  doctor's  arm  to  prevent  herself  from 
falling  to  the  ground,  while  Flora  stood  looking  fresh  and 
cool,  with  only  a  slight  color  tinging  her  delicate  cheeks. 

'  You  ought  not  to  have  allowed  her  to  carry  Henriette  all 
alone,"  the  doctor  remarked  to  his  betrothed  as  he  hastened 
back  to  the  house  with  Henriette  in  his  arms. 

"  You  don't  surely  expect  me  to  carry  her?  Besides  you 
have  no  right  to  find  fault,"  answered  Flora,  sharply;  "  I 
know  my  duty,  I  hope,  and  I  should  have  helped  to  carry  the 
poor  child,  only  I  knew  that  it  would  have  been  utter  mad- 
ness. I  am  not  strong,  and  it  could  not  hurt  Kathe's  extra 
robust  peasant-like  strength  to  do  it." 


106  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

He  did  not  reply,  but  called  to  his  aunt  to  run  in-doors  and 
prepare  a  bed  immediately  for  the  lifeless  girl  in  his  arms. 

The  widow  gave  a  quick  shocked  glance  at  the  advancing 
figures,  and  without  a  word  obeyed  her  nephew's  behest  so 
quickly  that  by  the  time  he  stepped  into  the  hall  she  had 
spread  a  clean  sweet-smelling  sheet  on  the  bed  in  the  spare 
room,  and  silently  motioned  to  him  to  lay  the  girl  down. 

The  apartment  was  large  and  pleasantly  lighted  by  two  im- 
mense windows — the  uncarpeted  floor  was  as  white  and  shining 
as  scrubbing  and  bee's-wax  could  make  it,  but  the  paper  on  the 
walls  was  faded  and  dim,  and  in  the  corner  opposite  the  door 
stood  an  old-fashioned  stove  of  black  Dutch  tiles.  On  one 
side  was  an  antiquated  folding-screen  covered  with  queer 
Chinese  figures,  on  the  other  was  a  small  round  table  of  dark 
wood  matching  the  frames  of  two  or  three  amateur  drawings 
which  hung  on  the  faded  walls.  The  only  article  of  luxury  in 
the  room  was  the  bright,  rosy  chintz  curtain  hanging  at  each 
window,  but  a  sweet  fresh  perfume  of  lavender  pervaded  the 
whole  air. 

Across  the  doctor's  brow  lay  an  anxious  look  as  he  bent  over 
his  patient,  and  with  a  skillful  gentle  hand  bathed  her  chin 
and  throat  to  clear  away  the  ghastly  effects  of  the  hemorrhage. 
At  last  she  opened  her  eyes  and  recognized  him,  but  she  was 
too  weak  to  speak  or  move. 

A  messenger  had  been  sent  to  the  villa  to  acquaint  old  Mme. 
Urach  with  the  misfortune  that  had  befallen  her  grand- 
daughter, and  till  she  arrived  not  a  word  was  spoken  in  the 
sick-room.  Flora  stood  motionless  at  the  window,  Kathe  sat 
in  a  corner  by  the  bedside,  and  the  widow  glided  noiselessly 
about,  waiting  on  her  nephew,  and  bringing  him  the  things  he 
needed  to  restore  Henriette  to  consciousness. 

The  old  lady  appeared  much  distressed  when  she  entered 
the  room,  especially  when  she  saw  Heuriette's  deathly  pale 
face  and  closed  eyelids. 

"  For  God's  sake  tell  me  how  it  all  happened?"  she  asked, 
her  voice  sounding  excited  and  shrill,  breaking  in  upon  the 
silence  of  the  last  half  hour. 

Henriette  shivered  and  moaned,  but  did  not  open  her  eyes. 

Flora  was  the  only  one  who  attempted  to  explain  to  her 
grandmother  what  had  happened.  According  to  her  she  had 
been  attacked  by  a  crowd  of  furies,  each  one  more  anxious 
than  the  others  to  do  her  some  personal  harm,  and  Kathe 
could  scarcely  restrain  from  a  smile,  as  she  went  on  to  describe 
how,  for  a  time,  she  had  kept  them  at  bay  by  her  own  courage 
and  presence  of  mind,  till  the  accident  happened  which  fright- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOK'S  HOUSE.  107 

ened  them  away,  and  left  her  and  Kathe  free  to  leave  the 
forest. 

Mme.  TJrach  walked  up  and  down  the  room  during  this 
recital,  not  heeding  in  her  agitation  the  torture  she  was  in- 
flicting on  the  poor  invalid's  nerves  by  the  monotonous  rust- 
ling of  her  silk  skirts  on  the  deal  boards. 

"  What  does  our  philanthropist  say  to  this?"  she  asked, 
sharply,  suddenly  standing  still  and  eying  the  doctor  with 
anything  but  a  friendly  look. 

He  did  not  answer;  he  was  holding  Henriette's  hand  in  his, 
and  apparently  intent  on  counting  the  feeble  pulse  under  his 
fingers;  but  a  sorrowful  smile  passed  over  his  handsome  young 
face,  and  a  pitying  look  crept  into  his  eyes,  which  no  one 
noticed  but  Kathe. 

Presently  the  old  lady  moved  up  to  the  bedside,  and  stoop- 
ing her  head  as  she  gazed  at  the  pale  shrunken  face  lying  on 
the  pillow,  said,  pointedly: 

"  She  looks  very  ill,  Herr  Doctor.  What  do  you  say  to 
sending  at  once  for  my  old  friend  and  physician,  Doctor  von 
Bar,  and  having  a  consultation  with  him?  You  surely  won't 
object?" 

"  Of  course  not,  madame,"  releasing  the  patient's  hand. 
"  It  is  only  my  duty  to  do  anything  that  will  ease  your  anx- 
iety;" and  he  left  the  room  to  send  a  message  to  the  great 
physician's  residence  in  town. 

He  had  no  sooner  closed  the  door  than  Mme.  TJrach  ex- 
claimed, in  a  subdied  voice : 

"  A  nice  mess  you  have  put  me  in,  by  bringing  Henrietta 
here.  Whatever  made  you  do  it?" 

"  It  was  Kathe's  fault,  not  mine — that  you  might  guess, 
grandmamma,"  replied  Flora,  bitterly.  "  You  ought  to  re- 
proach her  and  not  me  for  obliging  us  to  remain  in  this  hole, 
for  who  knows  how  long — perhaps  for  weeks,' '  and  her  eyes 
Hashed  angrily  across  at  Kathe. 

"  How  thoughtless  to  lay  the  poor  child  in  that  direction. 
Each  time  she  opens  her  eyes  she  must  look  at  that  hideous 
black  stone!  And  those  daubs  on  the  walls,  too,  how  fear- 
ful!" Then,  turning  toward  the  bed  again,  she  added:  "  The 
bed  itself  seems  not  so  bad;  at  all  events  the  sheets  are  fine  and 
white,  but  I  must  send  over  a  silk  eider-down  cover  for  her 
instead  of  that  cotton  thing,  also  a  good  easy-chair  for  my  old 
friend  when  he  comes,  and  a^bove  all  another  basin — this  one 
is  odious,"  she  went  on,  removing  it  from  the  wash-stand  with 
a  clatter  that  made  the  invalid  moan  again.  "  How  can  people 
live  with  such  coarse  tilings  about  them?  I  don't  believe  they 


108  us  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

even  notice  them!    What  is  it,  my  angel — do  you  want  any- 
thing?" 

Henriette  half  raised  her  head,  glanced  sharply  at  her 
grandmother  for  a  moment,  then  closed  her  eyes  again,  and 
with  the  first  sign  of  returning  strength  pushed  aside  the  hand 
that  lay  on  hers. 

"  As  willful  as  ever!"  sighed  her  grandmother,  and  sunk  on 
to  a  chair  by  the  bedside. 

They  had  not  long  to  wait  for  the  court  physician.  When 
the  message  reached  him,  begging  him  to  come  at  once  to  the 
house  by  the  river,  he  could  hardly  believe  his  ears  when  the 
man  added  that  "  Madame  Urach  "  was  there.  Curiosity  and 
surprise  hastened  his  departure,  and  in  a  very  short  while  his 
elegant  carriage  conveyed  him  to  the  rustic  bridge  in  front  of 
the  old  house.  He  was  a  handsome  old  gentleman,  neat  and 
spruce  from  head  to  foot,  and  with  pleasing  cordial  manners. 
He  was  the  favorite  physician  of  the  reigning  duke,  had  been 
rewarded  for  his  services  with  the  high-sounding  title  of 
"  Medicinalrath  "  and  the  right  to  add  to  his  name  the  cov- 
eted noble  prefix  of  von,  besides  having  received  many  decora- 
tions and  several  costly  snuff-boxes  mounted  with  precious 
stones. 

"A  pity,  a  very  great  pity  this  has  happened,"  he  said,  ap- 
proaching the  bed  on  which  Henriette  was  lying.  After  re- 
garding her  pale  face  with  an  anxious  look  for  a  moment  or 
two  he  began  sounding  her  chest — lightly  and  carefully  as  he 
did  it  the  girl  moaned  with  pain  more  than  once.  Dr.  Bruck 
stood  by,  silently  watching  the  great  man's  proceedings, 
wondering  why  he  should  torture  the  poor  girl  with  sounding 
her  lungs,  when  in  her  present  state  such  an  act  was  not 
necessary.  When  she  moaned  a  second  time  the  young  man 
frowned  and  said,  decisively,  to  put  an  end  to  the  examination : 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  the  result  of  my  observations,  Herr  von 
Bar?" 

The  older  man  understood  the  purport  of  the  question,  and 
a  bitter  rancorous  glance  flashed  from  his  eyes  ere  he  replied: 

"Certainly,  when  I  have  finished  my  investigation ;"  and 
he  continued  sounding  and  tapping  for  some  moments  longer. 

Then  he  rose,  moved  away  from  the  bed,  and  with  a  stiff 
inclination  of  his  head  remarked: 

"  Now,  sir,  I  am  at  your  disposition." 

Not  many  minutes  after  the  two  doctors  had  quitted  the 
room  to  consult  in  private  over  the  case  Henriette  opened  her 
eyes  and  began  inquiring  with  a  flushed  face  for  her  "  own 
doctor,"  Dr.  Bruck. 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  109 

"  Where  is  he?    I  want  him.     Tell  him  to  come. " 

Her  excited  manner  startled  Mme.  Urach,  who  immediately 
rose  to  fulfill  her  request,  muttering  to  herself  the  while  s 
protest  against  such  a  "  peculiar,  very  peculiar  caprice.'" 

Short  as  their  absence  had  been,  the  consultation  between 
the  doctors  was  evidently  over,  for  as  the  old  lady  entered  the 
sitting-room  the  court  physician  was  about  to  write  a  prescrip- 
tion. Dr.  Bruck  returned  to  the  sick-chamber,  and  Mme. 
Urach  was  left  alone  with  her  old  friend. 

To  her  question  of  what  he  thought  of  the  "  dear's  girl's  " 
case,  he  gave  a  short,  pointed  reply,  intimated  in  plain 
language  that  the  case  had  been  mishandled  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  growled  out  something  about  its  being  too  late  to 
send  for  him  when  hope  was  over,  and  reproached  the  old  lady 
for  yielding  to  Henrietta's  whim  in  the  choice  of  her  medical 
attendant,  instead  of  obliging  her  to  submit  to  be  treated  by 
the  one  who  had  known  and  studied  her  constitution  from  a 
child. 

"  However,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  now  is  to  have  the 
poor  child  removed  as  soon  as  possible  to  her  own  comfortable 
and  well-furnished  room,"  he  added,  more  pleasantly.  "  She 
will  feel  better  there;  besides,  I  shall  then  be  sure  that  my 
orders  will  be  carried  out,  whereas  they  will  not  be  so  here,  I 
know  very  well/' 

He  touched  the  nib  of  his  pen  with  his  thumb-nail,  and  was 
dipping  it  in  the  ink,  when  his  eye  fell  on  an  open  velvet  case 
lying  near  some  books  on  the  table,  which  apparently  were 
only  just  unpacked. 

Never  had  Mme.  Urach  seen  the  face  of  her  "  old  friend  " 
look  so  utterly  blank  with  dismay  and  astonishment  as  it  did 
now  when  the  pen  fell  out  of  his  hand,  and  he  exclaimed: 

"  Good  heavens,  here  is  the  Grand  Cross  of  Darmstadt!" 

He  touched  it  with  the  tip  of  his  finger. 

"  How  could  it  have  got  here,  I  wonder,  in  such  an  out-of- 
the-way  place  as  this  poor  house? :* 

"Astonishing!"  observed  Mme.  Urach,  while  a  flush  of 
annoyance  and  surprise  passed  over  her  face  as  she  bent  for- 
ward to  examine  the  case  with  her  eyeglass  in  her  hand.  "  I 
don't  know  the  decoration  myself,  or  its  meaning." 

"  I  dare  say  not,  madanie;  it  is  so  very  rarely  bestowed  on 
any  one, "  interrupted  the  court  physician. 

"  Otherwise  I  might  imagine  the  decoration  was  conferred 
on  him  during  the  war,"  continued  Mme.  Urach,  unmoved. 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,  nothing  of  the  kind!"  growled  the 
old  doctor,  in  a  voice  which  showed  how  much  the  discovery 


110  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

of  the  case  and  its  brilliant  order  had  disturbed  his  equanimity. 
"  In  the  first  place  no  one  obtains  this  decoration  except  foi 
some  personal  service  done  to  or  for  a  member  of  the  royal 
family;  and  next,  I  should  like  to  see  the  man  who,  possessing 
such  a  distinction,  would  keep  it  secret  for  years.  I  wonder 
what  he  did  to  obtain  it — why  it  was  bestowed  on  him,"  he 
went  on,  thoughtfully,  more  to  himself  than  his  companion, 
as  he  slowly  passed  his  hand  over  his  forehead,  and  absently 
regarded  the  brilliant  diamond  rings  on  his  fingers,  which  had 
been  given  to  him  by  his  own  royal  duke.  But  what  were  they 
in  comparison  with  the  contents  of  that  glittering  case  on  the 
table?  "  This  is  the  most  coveted  decoration  of  all/'  he  con- 
tinued; "  men  of  the  highest  rank  vie  with  each  other  for  its 
possession,  and  yet  here  it  lies  unheeded  and  apparently  un- 
valued by  a  fellow,  who,  from  sheer  ignorance  in  his  profes- 
sion, has  deservedly  got  himself  into  trouble.  Pardon  me, 
madame,  but  it  slipped  out,"  he  checked  himself  to  say  as  he 
noticed  the  heightened  color  of  the  proud  old  lady  at  this 
slighting  mention  of  her  intended  grandson-in-law.  "  But 
really  it  is  too  bad  not  to  know  wliy  he  had  that  thing  thrown 
round  his  neck.  I  can't  even  make  a  conjecture  about  it." 

"  I  don't  suppose  the  honor  was  conferred  on  him  for  any 
professional  service,"  remarked  Mme.  Urach,  with  a  smile, 
as  she  watched  the  impatient  strides  of  her  old  friend  up  and 
down  the  room,  adding,  after  a  moment:  "  But  how  came  he 
at  the  court  at  all  to  win  the  distinction?" 

The  court  physician  stood  and  laughed  aloud. 

"  My  dear  madame,  you  ask  a  question  that  it  would  never 
have  entered  my  head  to  ask,  simply  because  the  thing  itself  is 
an  impossibility,  unless  the  world  were  turned  upside  down 
and  truth  and  honor  were  trampled  under  foot.  No,  no;  he 
must  have  been  on  some  mission.  I  wonder  of  what  kind?" 
the  old  man  continued,  tapping  with  his  fingers  an  impatient 
tattoo  against  the  window-sill.  Then,  in  a  low  tone,  he  added, 
over  his  shoulder:  "  He  was  away  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  ana 
no  one  knew  where  he  went?  H'm,  that's  bad!  Sneaks  who 
never  mention  anything  about  their  doings  are  sure  to  have 
good  reasons  for  keeping  them  dark;  there  are  things  done  in 
the  medicalprofession  which  no  honorable  man  would  lend  his 
hand  to.  However,  I  am  silent;  it  has  never  been  my  habit 
to  tear  away  the  veil  of  another  man's  secret;  everything  must 
take  its  course  as  He  above  wills."  He  pointed  with  such  a 
devout  and  reverential  air  toward  the  ceiling  that  any  one  who 
did  not  know  him  so  well  as  Mme.  Urach  might  have  been 
deceived.  He  sat  down  at  the  table  and  scribbled  off  the 


£f  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  Ill 

prescription  so  quickly  that  it  seemed  as  if  the  presence  of  the 
velvet  case  had  put  quicksilver  into  his  fingers.  "  One  thing 
I  shall  leave  to  you,  my  honored  friend;  you  have  so  much 
tact  and  diplomatic  wisdom  that,  of  course,  I  need  not  remind 
you  to  be  cautious,  but  try  and  find  out  a  little  about  this," 
and  he  pointed  to  the  order.  "  I  would  like  to  know  some- 
thing of  its  origin  before  Bruck  begins  boasting  of  this  dubious 
honor,  and  we  can  ignore  it  now." 

The  old  lady  did  not  answer  at  once.  She  had  been  watch- 
ing him  quietly  while  he  wrote  his  prescription,  and  noticed 
for  the  first  time  that  his  face  had  very  much  altered  lately; 
the  cheeks  were  as  florid  and  blooming  as  usual,  but  there 
was  a  worried,  anxious  expression  about  his  mouth  and  eyes 
that  seemed  to  denote  some  hidden  trouble,  and  the  lines 
around  the  nose  and  brow  were  deeper,  as  if  he  had  suffered 
from  want  of  sleep.  And  she  remembered  then  that  he  had 
lately  thrown  out  several  hints  about  royal  personages  and  bad 
temper.  What  if  she  were  about  to  lose  him?  not  by  death, 
that  it  did  not  enter  her  thoughts;  but  if  he  lost  his  post  as 
court  physician  what  would  become  of  him?  and  she  would 
thus  lose  her  principal  link  with  the  court.  But  no,  such  a 
thing  was  not  going  to  happen.  The  good  old  man  was  too 
fond  of  the  table,  he  was  getting  indigestion,  and,  becoming 
gouty,  saw  things  in  a  contrary  light. 

"  But,  my  dear  Herr  von  Bar,  how  do  you  know  that  this 
belongs  to  the  doctor  himself  ?"  she  asked,  with  all  the  confi- 
dence of  a  woman  of  the  world.  "I  don't  think  so,  and, 
what  is  more,  I  shall  not  believe  it  till  I  know  the  reason  for 
its  being  here.  Besides,  no  matter  how  he  got  it  if  it  is  his, 
it  won't  be  of  any  use  or  service  to  him  in  this  part  of  the 
world,  for  the  whole  town  have  completely  and  forever  tabooed 
him  from  the  position  he  held.  I  will  do  as  you  wish,  how- 
ever, willingly,  and  find  out  the  meaning  of  its  presence  in 
chis  house,  solely  for  your — " 

She  checked  herself,  for  just  at  that  moment  a  door-handle 
turned,  and  the  mistress  of  the  house  entered  the  room  to  fetch 
some  linen  from  the  press. 

The  court  physician  rose,  handed  the  prescription  to  Mme. 
Urach,  and  both  were  leaving  the  apartment  when  they  saw 
the  widow  pause  by  the  table  and  close  down  the  lid  of  the 
case  in  dispute.  But  much  as  the  old  courtier  longed  to  ask 
two  or  three  questions  about  the  decoration,  he  had  not  the 
courage  to  confront  the  calm,  proud-looking  lady  with  his 
curiosity,  and  he  felt  obliged  to  leave  the  room  with  his  long- 
ing unsatisfied. 


112  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

In  the  meanwhile  matters  were  progressing  favorably  in  the 
sick-chamber.  Henriette  seemed  to  have  recovered  from  her 
excessive  exhaustion,  and  was  partly  raised  in  bed  supported 
by  pillows  at  her  back.  Her  eyes  were  open,  and  she  was  star- 
ing about  her  in  a  wild  manner;  fever  had  set  in,  but  anything 
was  better  than  the  unconscious  state  of  complete  prostration. 

Dr.  Brack  had  fetched  the  globe  of  gold-fish  from  his  aunt's 
sitting-room,  and  when  Mme.  Urach  and  his  old  friend  en- 
tered, he  was  trying  to  make  the  tiny  fountain  work,  in  order 
to  moisten  the  air  of  the  room.  A  large  basin  of  fresh  water 
stood  on  a  table  by  the  bedside,  from  which  he  constantly  re- 
plenished a  small  bouquet  pocket-fountain  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. And  no  one  watching  the  young  man,  in  his  earnest 
endeavors  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  his  patient,  could  have 
associated  his  handsome  open  countenance  and  untroubled 
bearing  with  any  conscious  act  of  meanness  or  dishonor.  Even 
the  court  physician  was  obliged  to  acknowledge  this  to  himself, 
while  he  ground  his  teeth  with  rage  at  the  possibility  of  the 
young  man's  possessing  the  rare  and  highly  coveted  honor. 
And  for  what? 

Mme.  Urach  found  Henriette  was  far  too  ill  to  be  moved,  so 
she  gave  orders  that  the  girl's  maid  should  be  sent  over  to  sit 
up  with  her  during  the  night,  as  also  several  articles  of  furni- 
ture to  make  the  room  comfortable.  Kathe  begged  to  be 
allowed  to  take  the  maid's  place  and  nurse  her  sister  through 
the  night,  but  Dr.  Bruck  so  sternly  forbade  any  such  thing, 
saying  he  would  have  no  one  but  the  old  lady's-maid  by  his 
patient  who  had  nursed  Henriette  before,  that  even  Mme. 
Urach  and  the  court  physician  were  surprised  into  confessing 
he  was  right.  The  tears  rose  to  Kathe's  eyes  at  the  cold, 
almost  rough  manner  in  which  he  had  replied  to  her  request, 
and  she  turned  away. 

Before  Mme.  Urach  left  the  house,  she  and  Flora  had  a  short 
conversation,  in  which  it  was  agreed  that  the  latter,  with 
Kathe,  should  remain  by  Henriette  till  ten  o'clock.  It  would 
never  do  when  the  whole  affair  was  blazed  abroad  in  town,  the 
next  day,  for  it  to  be  hinted  that  the  proud  girl  had  deserted 
her  sisterly  post  by  Henriette' s  bedside  to  the  care  of  her 
young  half-sister  Kathe,  and  for  this  reason,  and  no  other,  she 
consented  to  remain  under  Dr.  Bruck's  roof  till  Nanni  cams 
to  fetch  them  both  at  ten  o'clock. 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  115 


CHAPTER  IIL 

SOON  after  Mrae.  Uracb/s  departure,  several  men-servants 
appeared  laden  with  articles  of  furniture  and  "  comforts  "  for 
the  sick-room.  When  put  in  their  appointed  places,  the  apart- 
ment looked  incongruous  and  wanting  in  taste.  The  elegant 
screen,  made  the  black  chipped  stone  look  out  of  place — the 
gold-bordered  porcelain  washing  basin  and  appurtenances,  the 
rich  satin  easy-chair  and  inlaid  table  by  the  bedside,  together 
with  a  variegated  Turkey  rug,  formed  a  ridiculous  contrast  to 
the  faded  red  walls,  simple  chintz  curtains,  and  old-fashioned 
bedstead  of  the  room. 

Softly,  and  without  noise,  the  widow  called  her  maid,  and 
helped  her  remove  the  simple  plain  articles  that  were  no  longer 
needed.  Not  once  did  she  look  across  at  her  nephew,  who  was 
standing  by  the  window,  silently  regarding  the  change  in  the 
room;  perhaps  she  feared  to  see  the  angry  flush  on  his  brow, 
and  the  indignant  curl  of  his  lip;  and  she  would  not  have  felt 
more  comfortable  if  she  had  caught  his  eye,  so  she  studiously 
avoided  glancing  toward  him. 

Flora  superintended  the  arrangements;  with  her  own  fair 
hands,  she  spread  a  green  silk  coverlet  over  Henriette's  bed, 
and  contemptuously  cast  off  a  light  eider-down,  covered  with 
fine,  clean  dimity,  to  make  room  for  it.  After  sprinkling  a 
bottle  of  eau-de-Cologne  over  the  boards,  she  bade  one  of  the 
servants  lay  a  smaller  Turkey  rug  in  one  of  the  bow- windows, 
and  place  afaitteuil  on  it,  in  which  she  sunk  down  and  crossed 
her  pretty  feet  on  an  elegant  little  stool  close  by.  Seeing 
through  the  small  mirror  with  a  brown  wooden  frame  that 
her  hair  was  out  of  order,  she  took  a  small  lace  scarf  from  off 
her  shoulders,  and  daintily  fastened  it  on  her  head  to  hide  its 
rough  appearance.  The  white,  soft  cambric  was  so  becoming 
to  her  lovely  face,  and  looked  so  like  a  halo  of  glory  as  she 
leaned  her  head  in  a  graceful  attitude  against  the  back  of  the 
chair,  that  the  widow  gazed  at  her  hi  genuine  admiration,  and 
thought  to  herself,  that  she  could  partly  understand  now  why 
her  nephew  had  loved  so  madly  this  proud  girl  who  scarcely 
spoke  to  him  and  seemed  to  think  of  no  one  but  herself  and 
her  own  ease. 

The  afternoon  wore  on,  and  the  setting  sun  began  to  fill  the 
room  with  beautiful  purple  and  crimson  rays.  No  one  spoke. 
Henriette  objected  to  the  blinds  being  lowered,  and  begged  in 


114  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

her  feeble  voice  "  that  they  would  not  walk  about  on  tiptoe;" 
it  made  her  suppose  they  thought  her  worse  than  she  was. 

The  doctor  left  the  room  to  fetch  a  book;  when  he  returned, 
he  was  accompanied  by  his  aunt  carrying  a  tray,  on  which 
stood  two  cups  of  deliciously  perfumed  tea.  The  cloth  which 
covered  the  tray  was  of  the  very  best  damask;  the  cups  were 
of  rare  and  costly  china,  the  spoons  of  old-fashioned  patterL 
and  size,  but  of  pure  silver;  and  a  plate  of  tempting  swe^t 
cakes  stood  by  a  sugar-basin  and  cream- jug  of  the  same  pat- 
tern and  silver  as  the  spoons. 

The  grand,  noble-looking  lady  in  her  white  linen  apron 
stepped  forward,  and  courteusly  invited  her  beautiful  guest  to 
partake  of  the  tempting  refreshment. 

"  You  baked  the  cakes  yourself!"  said  Flora,  half  rising 
from  her  lounge.  "  Ah!  I  smelled  the  batter  from  here  when 
you  opened  the  kitchen  door — how  nice!"  and  she  clasped  her 
hands  together  with  naive  astonishment.  "A  poor  ignorant 
thing  in  household  affairs,  like  me,  has  no  idea  how  such 
dainties  are  made;  but  what  an  amount  of  patience,  and  how 
much  time  they  must  take  to  do!" 

"  Oh,  no,  not  if  one  manages  properly;  besides,  it  is  done 
quickly  when  one  is  accustomed  to  it,  said  the  widow,  laugh- 
ing; and  I  can't  be  slow  over  anything.  I  have  a  great  deal 
of  time  on  my  hands,  as  I  am  not  always  strong  enough  for 
domestic  duties.  Last  winter  I  set  myself  the  task  of  reading 
the  Bible  through,  from  beginning  to  end — " 

"  As  a  religious  duty?"  asked  Flora. 

"  No,  I  didn't  need  that;  I  think  I  know  by  heart  all  the 
parts  relating  to  our  daily  life,  and  how  one  ought  to  behave, 
but  while  this  political  and  religious  struggle  is  going  on,  I 
think  it  behooves  every  one  to  have  their  weapons  well  in  order, 
that  they  may  be  ready,  if  called  upon,  to  fight.  The  ques- 
tion touches  women  as  well  as  men,  so  I  thought  I  would  study 
9,11  the  parts,  and  convince  myself  if  what  is  being  said  is 
truth." 

Flora  looked  up  in  astonishment — that  any  one  should  read 
the  Bible  from  beginning  to  end,  for  the  simple  purpose  of  be- 
ing convinced  of  the  truth  of  any  statement,  was  to  her  incom- 
prehensible; but  that  this  widow  should  think  fit  to  prepare 
her  weapons  to  join  in  the  struggle  going  on  in  the  world,  was 
really  almost  absurd.  What  had  she  and  the  world  to  do  with 
each  other?  Ah!  now  she  understood  the  secrets  of  Dr. 
Bruck's  ridiculous  remarks  about  his  ideal  of  a  woman,  that 
she  ought  to  be  "  domestic,"  that  is  a  good  cook,  and  a  help- 
meet! 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  115 

While  Flora  was  turning  over  these  thoughts  in  her  minds 
Kathe  rose  from  her  seat  and  took  the  tea-tray  from  the  old 
lady's  hand,  and  being  able  to  read  the  signs  of  a  coming 
storm  in  her  beautiful  half-sister's  face,  she  urged  her  to  drink 
a  cup  of  tea. 

"  No,  thanks,  I  feel  too  upset  to  take  anything,"  she  said, 
-irritably;  but  a  few  minutes  later,  Kathe  saw  her  take  froiu 
her  pocket  an  elegant  bonbonniere,  and  covertly  eat  several 
chocolate  drops,  while  the  others  were  enjoying  the  fragrant 
beverage. 

The  sun  was  sending  forth  his  last  rays  of  golden  glory,  and 
those  in  the  sick-room  were  watching  the  crimson  light  play- 
ing caressingly  as  it  were  on  Flora's  bent  head  in  the  window 
recess,  when  Henriette  moaned  and  whispered  anxiously  as  if 
in  fear:  "  Take  it  away!  there  is  arsenic  in  green — take  it 
away!"  and  tried  with  her  feeble  strength  to  push  the  silk 
coverlet  from  the  bed. 

Kathe  removed  the  obnoxious  covering  at  once,  and  laid  over 
the  suffering  girl  the  cool  linen  one  which  had  been  there 
when  they  first  entered  the  room. 

"  That's  nice,"  went  on  Henriette,  her  eyes  half  open  and 
rolling  eagerly  around.  "  Don't  let  her  come  here  again  if 
she  puts  that  green  thing  on  me!  Grandmamma  is  false, 
false  like  all  her  drawing-room  clique,  she  and  that  old  horror 
her  great  authority.  If  he  touches  rne  again  I'll  scream,"  she 
hissed;  then  raising  herself  she  seized  Kathe's  hand  and  said 
solemnly  to  Dr.  Bruck:  "  Take  care  he  does  you  no  harm  or 
grandmamma  either!  As  to  her,"  and  her  tones  became  very 
excited,  "  you  know  who  I  mean — well,  she  smokes  and  drives 
the  wild  ponies  simply  because  you  asked  her  not  to  do  it — she 
is  false,  falser  than  all." 

"  Very  interesting,  I  must  say!"  whispered  Flora,  ensconc. 
ing  herself  more  comfortably  in  her  seat,  while  Kathe  glanced 
across  at  Dr.  Bruck,  who  was  quietly  leaning  against  the 
screen. 

"  You  remember  how  things  used  to  be,  doctor?"  went  on 
Henriette.  ' '  How  she  sent  you  letters  half  a  dozen  times  a 
day,  no  matter  what  the  weather  was?  How  she  used  to  fidget 
if  you  didn't  come  to  the  exact  moment,  and  directly  you 
arrived,  how  she  would  put  both  arms  round  your  neck  and 
cling  to  you  as  if  she  never  meant  to  part  from  you?  You 
hear  me,  doctor,  don't  you?" 

Flora  sprung  up,  her  face  scarlet,  her  silk  skirts  rustling 
noisily  on  the  deal  boards.  "  Give  her  some  morphine!"  she 


116  IN  THE  COUNSELOE'S  HOUSE. 

exclaimed:  "  she  is  delirious — make  her  sleep.  Such  ravings 
are  not  to  be  endured.  Do  as  I  say  at  once!" 

But  he  only  smiled  and  looked  at  her  with  compassion,  as 
the  red  flush  which  his  patient's  words  had  started  to  his  cheek 
died  away  and  left  him  strangely  pale.  He  did  not  move  or 
make  any  reply. 

Flora  flung  herself  back  in  her  seat,  and  turned  her  face  to- 
ward the  window. 

"  Did  you  ever  dream  all  that  would  change,  Doctor  Bruck 
— that  she  would  ever  tell  you  it  was  all  a  mistake?"  asked 
the  sick  girl,  excitedly,  seizing  hold  of  Kathe's  hand  and 
holding  it  fast,  as  she  tried  to  raise  herself  from  her  recumbent 
position. 

Kathe's  heart  beat  fast.  She  dared  not  look  at  the  young 
man  now,  after  that  strange,  searching  question.  Bending 
over  the  half -delirious  girl,  she  laid  her  cool  hand  on  her  fore- 
head, hoping  to  change  the  current  of  her  wild  thoughts. 

"  Ah — how  nice!"  said  the  invalid,  in  a  quieter  tone.  Then, 
after  a  moment  she  added,  feverishly:  "  Flora  always  took  his 
hand  away  when  he  laid  it  on  my  forehead — she  was  jealous 
of  even  me — terribly  jealous. " 

A  low  mocking  laugh  came  from  the  window  recess,  but 
Henriette  took  no  notice  of  it,  apparently  she  did  not  even 
hear  it. 

"  I  can't  sleep  for  thinking  of  all  the  misery  that  is  coming 
to  you,"  she  moaned  out  as  if  in  pain.  "  You  will  shun  our 
house  and  never  mention  our  name,  and  be  a  miserable  man, 
for  she  means  to  break  her  engagement  at  every  cost — 

In  her  distress  and  agony  at  hearing  these  true  revelations, 
Kathe  laid  her  finger  on  the  poor  excited  girl's  mouth,  but  the 
action  seemed  to  excite  her  more. 

"  How  dare  you  touch  my  lips  like  that  horrid  fellow  in  the 
forest?" 

Flora  sprung  from  her  seat  a  second  time,  hurried  over  to 
the  bed,  pushed  Kathe  almost  rudely  aside,  and  standing  in 
-her  place,  cried  out,  beesechingly: 

"  Don't  stop  her — let  her  say  what  she  likes!" 

"  Yes,  what  she  likes,"  repeated  Henriette,  beginning  to 
stammer  from  exhaustion,  but  pleased  as  a  child  to  have  her 
own  way.  "  Who  will  tell  you  the  truth,  doctor,  if  I  don't? 
Who  else  will  warn  you?  Be  on  your  guard,  or  she  will  fly 
away  from  you  like  the  doves  from  a  tree.  She  means  to  be 
free,  I  can  tell  you!" 

"  Whatever  else  she  says,  there  is  truth  in  that,"  interrupted 
Flora,  firmly,  drawing  a  step  nearer  the  young  man.  "  She  is 


IN    THE    COUNSELOK'S    HOUSE.  117 

quite  right;  I  can  not  keep  my  promise  to  you,  Leo.  Will 
you  give  me  up,  let  me  be  free?"  she  added,  clasping  her 
hands  and  speaking  in  a  sweet,  earnest  tone  that  startled 
Kathe,  it  was  so  musical  and  soft. 

The  young  man's  face  was  white  as  death  as  he  silently  and 
sternly  looked  at  the  beautiful  suppliant.  He  seemed  as  if  it 
^as  impossible  for  him  to  speak  just  now.  He  stretched  out 
uis  hand  to  wave  her  away,  but  she  took  it  in  both  hers  and 
repeated : 

"  You  will  give  me  back  my  freedom,  Leo?" 

"  This  is  not  the  place  for  the  separation  you  seek." 

"  But  the  right  moment.  Another  has  said  the  words  I 
have  been  longing  for  months  past  to  utter — only  I  hadn't 
the  courage — " 

"  Because  it  would  be  a  notorious  violation  of  faith  on  your 
part." 

She  bit  her  lip. 

"  Your  remark  is  hard  and  scarcely  to  the  point — our  en- 
gagement was  not  quite  of  such  a  serious  nature.  No  one  has 
taken  your  place  in  my  heart.  Don't  smile  so  sarcastically, 
Leo.  Indeed  I  mean  it,"  she  added,  passionately;  "  I  am  not 
thinking  of  any  other  husband.  But  I'll  even  run  the  risk  of 
that  reproach,"  she  said,  after  a  moment  more,  composedly, 
"  if  you  will  consent  to  my  prayer  and  keep  us  from  making 
each  other  miserable. " 

"  Don't  bring  my  happiness  or  unhappiness  into  the  dis- 
cussion. You  can't  possibly  know  what  I  understand  by 
either;  but  I  think  you  will  have  to  acknowledge  to  yourself 
even  that  neither  one  nor  the  other  will  have  any  influence 
over  the  way  a  man  should  act  in  defending  his  honor  and  self- 
esteem.  And  now  I  must  beg  you  to  be  silent  on  the  subject, 
so  as  not  to  excite  your  sister. " 

He  turned  away  and  walked  over  to  the  window.  Flora  fol- 
lowed him. 

"  Henriette  is  not  listening,"  she  said. 
The  poor  little  invalid  had  fallen  back  on  her  pillows  and 
lay  quite  still. 

Lowering  her  voice  and  leaning  toward  him,  Flora  con- 
tinued in  a  beseeching  tone: 

"  I  must  and  will  have  a  clear  and  distinct  understanding 
between  us.  Why  put  off  what  can  be  done  just  as  well 
now?"  and  she  played  nervously  with  the  third  finger  of  her 
left  hand.  "Answer  me!" 

"  What  are  you  exchanging  life  by  my  side  for?"  he  asked, 


118  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

suddenly,  facing  round  upon  her  so  brusquely  that  she  drew 
back. 

"  Is  it  necessary  to  tell  you  that?"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  sigh 
of  relief,  pushing  back  her  hair.  "  Can't  you  see  how  my 
whole  soul  longs  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  literature?  How 
can  I  give  myself  up  to  the  inspiration  of  my  talent  if  I  un- 
dertake wifely  duties?  No!  never,  never!  It  must  not,  can 
not  be!" 

"  It's  very  strange  that  this  enthusiasm  for  literary  pursuits 
has  only  lately  taken  possession  of  you.  It  is  scarcely  a  month 
since  you — " 

"  You  mean  to  say  that  I  have  lived  nine-and-twenty  years 
without  any  wish  for  fame,"  she  interrupted,  with  a  glowing 
face.  "  Explain  that  as  you  will,  put  it  down  to  the  wom- 
an's nature  who  fluctuates  between  this  and  that,  tries  one 
thing  and  the  other  till  she  finds  the  right." 

"  But  are  you  sure  you  are  right  now  in  wishing  to  devote 
your  life  to  literature?"' 

"  As  sure  as  that  the  needle  points  to  the  pole." 

He  did  not  reply.  His  face  assumed  a  very  grave  expres- 
sion, and  his  brow  contracted  as  if  with  pain.  Yet,  in  spite  of 
the  gravity  of  his  countenance,  his  dark,  gray  eyes  gazed  down 
on  the  woman  at  his  side  with  a  loving  pity  and  tenderness 
shining  in  them  that  one  would  have  thought  must  have 
moved  the  heart  of  a  stone.  Then  he  slowly  turned  away  and 
crossed  the  room.  He  took  up  the  medicine  bottle  and  spoon, 
and  went  near  the  bed. 

Henriette  had  fallen  asleep,  still  holding  Kathe's  hand. 
Several  times  Kathe  had  tried  to  draw  her  hand  away  in  order 
to  leave  the  room;  but  each  movement  of  hers  seemed  to  dis- 
turb the  invalid,  who  moaned  and  opened  her  eyes  for  a  second, 
and  held  her  fingers  in  a  closer  clasp;  thus  the  young  girl  was 
forced,  against  her  will,  to  be  a  witness  to  the  painful  scene 
between  the  lovers. 

When  the  doctor  approached  the  bed  he  did  not  appear  to 
notice  Kathe's  presence;  he  seemed  to  be  doing  his  duty 
mechanically,  as  if  hardly  conscious  of  what  he  was  about. 
For  a  moment  he  looked  earnestly  at  the  sleeping  girl,  then 
attempted  to  feel  her  pulse.  In  doing  so  he  accidentally 
touched  Kathe's  hand,  which  made  him  start  so  violently  and 
change  color  so  rapidly  that  she  in  her  turn  started  and  drew 
her  hand  from  Henriette's  clasp,  wondering  why  he  should  be 
so  nervous  that  a  touch  of  her  fingers  had  such  an  effect  on 
him.  Was  he  Buffering  from  the  shock  of  Flora's  bitter 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  119 

words?  She  stole  a  shy  glance  at  him,  and  heard  him  heave  a 
deep  sigh,  as  he  put  the  bottle  and  spoon  back  on  the  table. 

Flora  seemed  to  be  getting  more  angry  and  impatient  each 
moment.  She  paced  the  room  once  or  twice,  then  suddenly 
hesitated  and  followed  the  doctor  to  the  table.  His  silence 
and  attention  to  his  duties  where  the  invalid  was  concerned,  in 
the  middle  of  a  discussion  that  was  to  influence  the  future  of 
both  their  lives,  irritated  her  beyond  measure. 

With  trembling  lips  and  flashing  eyes,  she  said : 

"  It  was  very  foolish  of  me  to  speak  so  openly  of  my  feelings 
just  now.  You  hate  and  despise  talented  women,  and  many 
of  your  sex  have  a  horror  of  a  woman  being  independent  and 
standing  on  her  own  rights — " 

"  If  it  is  not  possible  for  her  to  do  so,  certainly." 

For  the  space  of  one  moment  she  wildly  clinched  her  hands, 
and  stared  at  him  in  speechless  dismay;  recovering  herself  the 
next,  she  replied,  sharply: 

"  What  do  you  mean  oy  saying  that?" 

A  flush  passed  over  his  face,  and  his  brows  contracted  as  if 
he  shrunk  from  the  sharp,  metallic  ring  of  her  voice.  His 
was  a  sensitive  nature,  and  this  war  of  words  with  his  promised 
wife  was  evidently  very  distasteful  to  his  inclinations. 

After  a  slight  hesitation,  he  answered,  calmly,  but  wearily: 

"  I  mean  that  this  *  standing  on  her  own  rights/  which  is 
quite  legitimate  for  a  woman  who  does  not  neglect  home  duties 
or  home  ties,  requires  more  strength  and  tenacity  of  will,  a 
more  complete  abnegation  of  womanly  vanity,  and  more  real 
sterling  talent  than  you  are  aware  of." 

"  And  you  dispute  my  talents?" 

"  I  have  read  your  recent  article  on  woman's  rights  and  the 
labor  question,"  and  his  voice  trembled  with  the  slightest 
accent  of  irony. 

Flora  started  back  as  if  she  had  been  struck. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  the  article  you  read  was  mine?" 
she  asked,  hesitatingly,  while  she  looked  him  straight  in  the 
eyes  with  feverish  excitement.  "  I  write  under  a  cipher. " 

"  But  your  cipher  has  been  whispered  from  one  to  the  other 
among  your  large  circle  of  friends,  till  it  was  tolerably  well 
known  ere  it  appeared  in  print. " 

For  a  moment  she  drooped  her  eyes  with  shame. 

"  Well,  you  have  read  it,"  she  said,  presently;  "but  what 
am  I  to  think  of  your  silence  on  the  subject — of  your  not  on«? 
having  expressed  your  disapproval ?" 

"  Would  you  have  ceased  writing  if  I  had?" 

''  No — a  thousand  times  nol" 


130  Df    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

"  That  I  knew.  Hence  I  determined  to  be  silent  till  we 
were  married;  for  I  am  sure  that  a  sensible  wife  will  conform 
to  her  husband's  wishes,  and  not  isolate  herself  from  his  side 
to  strive  after  impossibilities,  but  prove  she  has  talents  by  be- 
ing his  companion  and — " 

"  But,  then,  according  to  you,  I  have  no  talents,"  she  broke 
in,  impetuously. 

"  Nay,  Flora,  that  I  didn't  say.  You  are  clever  and  quick- 
witted, but  not — a  genius,"  he  answered,  shaking  his  head, 
with  a  smile  peeping  forth  from  under  his  heavy  mustache. 

For  a  moment  or  two  she  seemed  paralyzed  at  his  audacity, 
then,  stretching  out  her  hands  in  a  fury,  her  face  flushing, 
her  eyes  like  burning  coals,  she  exclaimed : 

"  Thank  God  the  last  link  is  snapped!  You  dare  to  suggest 
my  becoming  a  slave — a  poor,  submissive  wife,  with  every 
spark  of  poetic  inspiration  crushed  out  of  me — in  order  to  con- 
vert me  into  a — a  nonentity?" 

Her  raised  voice  awoke  her  suffering  sister,  who  started  up 
and  stared  wildly  around  her. 

Dr.  Bruck  hastened  to  the  bedside,  laid  his  cool  hand  on  her 
forehead,  spoke  a  few  soothing  words  to  quiet  her  agitation, 
and  succeeded  in  persuading  her  to  lie  down  and  close  her  eyes 
in  sleep. 

"  I  must  entreat  you  not  to  disturb  your  sister  again;  I  can 
not  answer  for  the  consequences  if  you  do/'  he  said,  turning 
his  head  toward  Flora,  but  not  moving  his  hand  from  Hen- 
riette's  brow. 

"  I  have  nothing  more  to  say,"  replied  Flora,  with  a  willful 
misunderstanding  of  meaning,  as  she  drew  her  gloves  from  her 
pocket.  "Our  engagement  is  at  an  end,  as  your  last  speech 
implies,  and — I  am  free — 

"  Because  I  deny  you  are  a  genius,  as  you  fancy?"  he  asked, 
in  a  subdued  tone. 

Then,  turning  from  the  bedside,  he  strode  over  to  where  she 
stood.  All  the  soft  tenderness  had  gone  from  his  eyes — he 
was  a  changed  man.  His  tall,  broad-shouldered  figure  towered 
far  above  her  head,  passion  and  anger  seemed  to  have  taken 
possession  of  him,  as  he  said,  in  a  voice  trembling  with  emotion 
and  suppressed  passion: 

"  Which  of  the  two  did  I  woo  and  win,  the  writer  or  the 
woman?  Answer  me.  You  know  it  was  you,  and  you  as  a 
simple  woman  only.  As  such  you  put  your  hand  in  mine, 
and  promised  to  be  my  wife,  knowing  full  well  that  I  disliked 
publicity  for  a  woman  where  it  could  be  avoided;  that  I  have 
chosen  you  for  yourself  alone,  to  be  the  stay  and  glory  of  my 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  121 

fireside,  not  that  you  might  shine  before  the  world  as  an  au- 
thor. You  knew  all  this  quite  well,  and  at  that  time  it  pleased 
you  to  suppress  any  wishes  to  the  contrary  you  might  have 
had.  I  am  very  much  astonished  that  you  yourself  have 
altered;  that  you  have  strayed  into  the  path  I  would  rather 
you  had  avoided.  You  have  brains  and  tact,  and  ought  to 
have  understood  that  I  sought  you  to  be  my  companion,,  and 
the  pride  and  joy  of  my  home — " 

He  heaved  a  deep  sigh  as  he  checked  himself  for  a  moment, 
but  he  still  gazed  sternly  on  the  beautiful  face  of  the  woman 
who  stood  meekly  before  him,  listening  to  his  words  with  an 
air  of  innocence  and  unconsciousness  of  wrong-doing  about  her 
that  seemed  to  irritate  him,  as  he  went  on : 

"  I  have  watched  with  close  earnestness  the  change  in  you, 
from  the  first  cloud  on  your  beautiful  brow  to  your  entreaty 
for  freedom  from  our  engagement  just  now.  Your  very  weak- 
nesses, Flora,  you  are  not  strong  enough  to  resist;  pride,  am- 
bition, vanity,  even  capriciousness  of  temper,  are  all  there,  and 
yet  you  aspire  to  strong-mindedness,  wish  to  play  the  role  of 
a  leader  in  the  woman's  right  question,  and  claim  the  privileges 
of  equality  with  man.  What  J  think  of  this  strange  caprice, 
if  it  pains  or  pleases  me,  if  I  shall  be  happy  or  miserably  un- 
happy in  the  future,  is  not  the  question  now.  We  have  solemn- 
ly and  freely  engaged  ourselves  for  life,  and  so  it  shall  remain. 
You  have  been  reproached  often  enough  with  cruelly  playing 
with  men's  hearts,  and  then  boasting  of  your  conquest,  but 
you  shall  not  do  the  same  by  me,  of  that  I  warn  you.  You 
are  not  free;  I  do  not  release  you  from  your  engagement,  my 
beautiful  mistress.  You  may  commit  perjury  on  your  side  or 
not,  it  is  all  the  same — 7  mean  to  keep  my  word. " 

"For  shame!"  she  cried  out,  passionately.  "Will  you 
force  me  to  stand  with  you  at  the  altar  when  I  swear  that— 
that  I  don't  love  you,  that — here,  now  I  tell  you — that  I  hate 
you,  it's  long  since  I  loved  you — do  you  hear?  and  that  it  is 
only  by  a  strong  effort  over  myself  that  I  refrain  from  saying 
that  I  hate  you,  Leo,  with  the  bitterest  hatred  a  woman  can 
feel." 

Kathe  could  bear  this  scene  no  longer;  with  a  white  face 
and  limbs  trembling  with  fear  and  anxiety  for  the  conse- 
quences of  Flora's  bold  statement,  she  hurried  from  the  rooaj 
into  the  fresh  air. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

As  Kathe  passed  through  the  hall  she  saw  the  widow  wash- 
ing up  the  tea-things  at  a  table  in  the  kitchen  near  the  dooi. 
She  nodded  pleasantly  to  the  young  girl,  and  made  a  laugh- 
ing remark  about  leaving  the  lovers  alone  for  a  little,  per- 
fectly unconscious  of  the  sad  state  of  affairs  between  them. 
Kathe  winced  and  did  not  reply,  but  hurried  on  to  the  garden. 

The  evening  was  cool,  a  strong  wind  had  sprung  up,  and 
she  shivered  as  she  slowly  paced  the  gravel  walk  unprotected 
by  shawl  or  wrap  from  its  chilling  influence.  The  hot  blood 
was  rushing  through  her  veins,  from  the  unwonted  excitement 
she  was  in,  so  that,  although  she  shivered,  she  was  not  con- 
scious of  the  cold  wind  blowing  about  her.  Her  cheeks  were 
burning  and  her  head  ached  with  the  emotion  caused  by  the 
conversation  she  had  just  heard. 

Hot  as  her  cheeks  were  they  grew  still  hotter  with  shame, 
as  she  thought  over  the  cruel  bitterness  of  her  sister's  conduct 
to  a  man  who  was  a  "  thousand  times  too  good  for  her/" 
though — and  Kathe  paused  and  clasped  her  hands  together  in 
amazement — unworthy  as  Flora  was,  he  would  not  give  her 
up. 

Kathe  wandered  on  beyond  the  garden,  down  the  pathway 
till  she  reached  the  rustic  bridge.  There  she  leaned  against 
its  wooden  support,  and  looked  over  the  parapet  below  into 
the  rushing  water,  tumbling  and  gurgling,  hurried  along  by  the 
wind  at  her  feet—  some  of  the  spray,  as  it  dashed  against  the 
stones,  falling  on  her  skirts  and  wetting  her  boots.  Over- 
head the  full  moon  was  shining  brightly — and  its  reflection 
appeared  visible  in  the  dark,  turbulent  water,  still  and  un- 
moved as  if  fixed  there  forever.  Was  this  like  love,  true  love? 
Could  love  shine  like  that,  in  the  midst  of  outward  disturb- 
ance? 

Love  was  a  wonderful  passion  after  all,  and  led  men  and 
women  to  do  strange  deeds.  Kathe's  thoughts  as  she  stood  by 
the  bridge,  und  peered  down  into  the  dark  waters,  wandered 
away  from  the  scene  she  had  just  witnessed  to  a  story  the 
widow  had  told  her  a  few  days  before  of  the  last  tenant  of  the 
old-fashioned  house. 

She  was  a  young,  beautiful  widow,  who  lived  there  in  retire- 
ment after  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  lord  of  the  adjacent 
castle.  The  new  lord  was  a  young,  handsome  fellow,  and  a 
cousin  by  marriage.  He  had  seen  the  beautiful  face  of  th& 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  123 

young  widow  shrouded  in  her  weeds,  bending  over  her  em- 
broidery-frame at  the  window,  and  after  a  few  months  he  fell 
into  the  habit  of  spurring  his  noble  steed  right  across  the  old 
bridge,  and  riding  close  to  the  window,  to  have  a  little  talk 
with  the  lovely  inmate  of  the  house,  kiss  her  delicate  white 
hand,  and  repeat  the  vows  he  had  made,  that  as  soon  as  he1" 
term  of  mourning  was  over  he  would  fetch  her  to  his  castle  to 
reign  there  again  as  its  mistress. 

Then  he  was  obliged  to  go  away  to  a  foreign  court,  and  as 
the  weeks  slipped  by,  and  the  young  widow  began  to  prepare 
for  her  second  marriage,  rumors  reached  her  that  the  lord  of 
the  castle  was  about  to  wed  a  fair  and  lovely  damsel,  and  bring 
her  to  his  home  to  be  its  mistress.  But  the  young  widow 
would  not  believe  in  so  must  falseness;  she  only  laughed,  and 
sat  at  her  window  daily  watching  for  her  handsome  lover — till 
one  day  the  blasts  of  trumpets  and  the  clanging  of  instruments 
fell  on  her  ear,  and  she  was  told  it  was  in  celebration  of  the 
arrival  of  the  young  lord  and  his  bride  at  the  castle. 

A  few  days  later  the  bride  and  bridegroom  crossed  the  rustic 
bridge  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  young  widow  of  the  late 
lord.  The  bride's  train,  heavy  with  golden  embroidery, 
rustled  and  crackled  over  the  gravel  path,  and  the  fan  in  her 
hand  glittered  with  precious  stones.  The  beautiful  grey- 
hound, which  had  many  a  time  received  biscuits  and  sweet 
cake  from  the  hand  of  the  noble  lady  at  the  window,  sprung 
forward  toward  the  house,  then  turned  back  to  the  river,  and 
whined,  and  moaned  in  mournful  yelps.  The  bridegroom  fol- 
lowed to  see  what  was  the  matter,  and  turned  pale  as  he  saw 
before  him  the  cold  corpse  of  the  beautiful  lady  he  had  be- 
trayed, with  her  eyes  wide  open,  staring,  as  he  thought,  re- 
proachfully at  him. 

It  was  from  that  same  window,  where  the  lady  had  listened 
to  the  false  love  vows,  that  the  light  from  the  doctor's  evening 
lamp  was  always  visible  after  dark;  and  from  it  the  poor,  for- 
saken one  must  often  have  gazed  into  the  dark  flowing  river 
wherein  she  had  laid  her  delicate  head,  rather  than  live  to 
mourn  over  the  heart  she  had  lost. 

Fifty  years  had  passed  since  then  and  now,  and  the  sufferer 
inhabited  that  room,  tormented  with  similar  doubts — but  with 
this  difference,  thought  Kathe.  He  is  a  man  endowed  with 
talents,  has  the  world  before  him,  and  can  overcome  the  weak- 
ness of  his  love  by  energetic  work  and  a  brilliant  career.  He 
would  not  think  of  putting  an  end  to  his  life  like  the  poor 
weak  woman  because  the  woman  he  coveted  had  said  she 
would  never  be  his! 


124  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE: 

A  moment  later  the  girl  started  and  her  cheek  paled  In  the 
darkness,  as  she  remembered  Henriette's  ominous  remark  that 
"  any  one  who  had  seen  how  fascinating  "  Flora  could  be  to 
the  man  she  loved,  would  know  that  he  would  seek  death 
rather  than  give  her  up. 

He  would  be  obliged  to  give  her  up  now,  for  she  had  told  him 
in  bitter,  cruel  words  that  she  hated  him. 

Kathe  turned  away  from  the  bridge  with  a  shudder,  hak 
fearing  in  her  nervousness  to  see  the  corpse  of  the  miserable 
woman  appear  before  her  eyes,  and  stretch  out  her  hands  to 
her  for  help. 

It  was  quite  dark.  The  forest  in  the  distance  looked  like  a 
gloomy  mass  of  black  clouds,  and  stood  so  still  and  solemn 
that  it  was  difficult  to  believe  every  branch  and  twig  and  leaf 
were  swaying  to  and  fro  in  wild  confusion  from  the  force  of 
the  wind. 

The  weather-cock  on  the  roof  toiled  first  one  way,  then  the 
other.  The  silver  poplars  bent  their  tall  heads  with  graceful 
ease  as  the  wind  swept  over  them,  and  every  bush  and  branch 
in  the  copse  near  the  house  creaked  and  moaned  as  each  gust 
passed  through  them. 

With  a  shy,  anxious  glance  Kathe  turned  toward  the  house. 
A  subdued  light  gleamed  from  the  windows  of  the  guest  cham- 
ber, where  she  had  left  the  lovers  standing  by  the  window. 
The  angry  interview  was  not  over  yet,  for  the  doctor  was  still 
occupying  the  same  spot,  and,  as  Kathe  nervously  peeped  in, 
he  was  standing  with  his  arms  raised,  as  if  imploring  silence 
from  Flora,  who  had  retreated  to  the  middle  of  the  room. 
What  could  she  have  been  saying  to  call  up  that  drawn,  hag- 
gard, yet  passionate  expression  on  the  young  man's  face?  Her 
own  had  a  mocking  triumphant  gleam  over  it,  that  made  her 
look  like  a  beautiful  demon  in  woman's  form.  Kathe's  im- 
pulse was  to  spring  forward,  rush  into  the  room,  reproach  her 
faithless  half-sister  with  her  cruel  conduct,  and  do  her  best  to 
comfort  the  man  who  was  being  so  bitterly  wronged.  But  a 
moment's  reflection  showed  her  how  absurd  such  a  proceeding 
on  her  part  would  be.  She  ground  her  teeth  with  rage,  then 
a  moment  later  trembled  all  over  as  she  asked  herself  what 
would  he  think  of  her  if  he  knew  she  wished  to  comfort  him, 
he  who  had  hardly  spoken  to  her  since  her  arrival,  who  had 
studiously  treated  her  with  ceremonious  politeness,  and  who 
had  quietly  put  aside  out  of  his  room  the  wild  blue  flowers  she 
had  inadvertently  left  on  his  writing-table  not  a  week  ago. 
And  in  spite  of  the  shielding  darkness  she  blushed  a  rosy  red, 
and  felt  as  if  she  would  like  to  hide  herself  under  the  earth  for 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  13a 

her  momentary  desire  to  stand  by  his  side  and  express  he* 
warm  sympathy  for  his  sufferings. 

She  turned  away,  her  whole  frame  quivering  with  emotion 
and  an  unaccustomed  feeling  of  loneliness  creeping  over  her. 
She  did  not  like  to  go  back  to  the  garden,  so  she  hovered  about 
near  the  house,  and  presently  found  herself  looking  in  at  the 
kitchen  window,  where  the  widow  was  making  some  prepara- 
oion  for  the  next  day's  dinner.  She  longed  to  go  in  and  offer 
to  help  her,  but  she  dared  not  trust  herself  just  now  under 
the  sharp,  scrutinizing  glance  of  the  old  lady's  clear,  searching 
eyes.  She  went  round  to  the  front  door,  which  stood  open, 
softly  crossed  the  hall,  and  entered  the  widow's  private  sitting- 
room,  hoping  to  calm  and  quiet  herself  before  she  had  occasion 
to  encounter  any  member  of  the  household.  She  sat  down  in 
the  easy-chair  near  the  work-table.  The  ivy  of  the  tiny  alcove 
touched  her  hair  as  she  leaned  back.  The  sweet  evening  per- 
fume of  the  hyacinth  and  narcissus  filled  the  air  around  her, 
the  canary  hopped  now  and  again  from  one  perch  to  the  other, 
twittering  feebly  as  if  tired,  and  trying  to  keep  himself  awake; 
but  although  the  presence  of  the  bird  made  her  feel  less  lone- 
ly, she  was  still  nervous  and  trembling.  In  vain  she  tried  to 
Daway  from  her  thoughts  the  image  the  dark  water  outside 
conjured  to  her  brain  of  the  dead  woman  who  had  drowned 
herself  for  love,  and  in  spite  of  all  her  efforts,  Henriette's 
speech,  that  the  doctor  would  not  survive  Flora's  loss,  recurred 
to  her  excited  brain  and  made  her  head  hot  and  her  hands  cold, 
for  surely  the  invalid  would  not  have  said  it  if  she  did  not  be- 
lieve it. 

Presently,  through  the  open  door  communicating  with  the 
doctor's  room,  she  saw  the  widow  go  in,  light  his  lamp,  re- 
plenish the  fire,  draw  down  the  blinds,  and  then  return  to  the 
kitchen.  A  few  moments  later  the  young  man  himself  ap- 
peared on  the  threshold,  one  hand  pressed  to  his  forehead,  the 
other  hanging  listlessly  by  his  side.  He  evidently  had  no  idea 
that  a  human  being  was  watching  him  from  the  outer  darkened 
room  with  a  beating  heart  and  a  terrified,  anxious  expression 
contracting  her  young  face  till  it  appeared  to  double  the  num- 
ber of  her  years. 

Suddenly  he  crossed  over  to  his  writing-table,  and  Kathe 
noiselessly  rose  from  her  seat  and  watched  his  every  movement. 
She  saw  him  sit  down  under  the  light  of  the  lamp  which  sharp- 
ened the  outline  of  his  profile,  and  made  her  see  the  deep  flush 
on  forehead  and  cheeks,  and  the  excited  gleam  of  his  eye-s. 
He  hastily  scribbled  a  few  lines  on  a  sheet  of  paper,  though  his 
hand  shook  visibly,  folded  and  r»ut  it  in  an  envelope  with  fever- 


126  IN    THE    COUNSELOK'S    HOUSE. 

ish,  eager  haste,  then  wrote  an  address  on  the  outside.  Whose 
name  was  inscribed  there?  Was  there  anything  left  on  earth 
for  him  to  care  about,  that  he  could  think  of  now?  The  note 
must  be  for  Flora — his  last  farewell.  Then  he  took  up  the 
decanter  of  water  on  the  table;  poured  some  into  the  crystal 
glass  Kathe  had  thoughtlessly  used  for  her  flowers  a  few  days 
before,  and  opening  a  drawer  drew  forth  a  tiny  glass-stoppered 
.nedicine  bottle.  He  held  it  to  the  light,  as  if  to  assure  him- 
self it  was  all  right,  then  dripped  into  the  crystal  glass  four  or 
live  clear  colorless  drops  of  the  liquid. 

Kathe  had  watched  these  proceedings  with  a  feeling  that  her 
heart  had  suddenly  stood  still,  and  that  she  could  not  move  if 
she  tried;  but  the  last  drop  had  barely  reached  the  water  ere 
she  regained  her  power  of  action,  and  with  one  noiseless 
bound  stood  by  his  side,  her  left  hand  laid  on  his  shoulder,  her 
right  seizing  the  hand  which  held  the  glass  just  as  he  was  put- 
ting it  to  his  lips. 

She  could  not  utter  a  sound,  but  all  she  felt,  all  she  feared 
was  expressed  in  the  terror-stricken  face  she  turned  toward 
him.  She  gave  one  horrified  look  into  his  eyes,  then  started 
back  and  sunk  down  on  her  knees,  bowed  her  head  in  her 
hands  from  shame,  and  burst  into  an  uncontrollable  flood  of 
tears. 

Then,  and  then  only,  it  flashed  across  his  mind  what  she 
had  imagined  he  was  about  to  do,  and  the  effort  she  had  made 
to  preserve  his  life  when  falsely  supposing  he  was  in  the  act  of 
committing  suicide.  He  rose,  put  the  glass  on  the  table,  and 
taking  one  of  her  hands  in  his,  pressed  it  warmly  and  whis- 
pered: 

"  Kathe,  dear  Kathe!" 

He  tried  to  look  in  her  face,  but  she  turned  it  resolutely 
from  him,  feeling  ashamed  in  her  warm,  sympathizing,  girlish 
heart  that  he  should  see  the  extent  of  her  emotion.  Never  be- 
fore had  he  realized  the  existence  of  such  a  strong,  passionate 
nature  in  this  reserved  bright  young  girl. 

His  voice  was  husky,  but  low  and  tender  as  he  said  again* 

"  Kathe,  Kathe,  don't  cry  so!" 

She  gently  put  aside  his  hand,  and  hastily  swallowing  the 
sobs  that  still  shook  her  whole  frame  with  their  force,  mak- 
ing her  round  bosom  heave,  she  said: 

"  I  have  Bounded  you,  Herr  Doctor,  I  know.  You  will 
never,  never  be  able  to  forget  that  senseless  act  of  mine. 
Good  heavens!  how  could  I  have  been  so  mad  as  to  imagine 
that — "  she  checked  herself  and  her  mouth  quivered;  after  a 
moment's  hesitation,  she  added  softly  as  she  raised  her  liquid 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  12? 

brown  eyes  to  his,  with  a  world  of  passionate  entreaty  and  self- 
accusation  shining  in  their  clear  depths:  "  Don't,  please,  judge 
me  so  harshly;  all  I  have  gone  through  to-day  might  well  upset 
a  stronger  head  than  mine.  How  could  I  think  you  meant 
it?  How  can  you  ever  forgive  me  for  such  a  thought?" 

He  gazed  at  the  beautiful,  quivering  mouth  while  uttering 
these  bitter  self -accusations  as  if  it  pained  him,  he  felt  so  help- 
less and  wretched  himself. 

"  You  have  not  wounded  me,  dear  Kathe,"  he  said,  pres- 
ently, a  smile  creeping  over  his  face  to  comfort  her.  "  And 
what  have  I  to  do  by  judging  you?  What  you  could  have  seen 
in  my  character  and  actions  to  -cause  you  to  think  that  I  would 
commit  the  rash  act  you  feared,  I  can  not  imagine.  I  will  not 
even  think  about  it,  one  way  or  the  other,  but  your  mistake 
has  caused  me  to  live  through  a  few  moments  I  hope  never  to 
forget  while  I  exist.  And  now  calm  yourself,  or  rather  let  me 
as  a  doctor  prescribe  for  you."  He  took  up  the  crystal  glass 
from  the  table.  "  Drink  some  of  this,  it  will  do  you  good. 
But  first  perhaps  I  ought  to  explain."  He  hesitated,  then, 
after  a  moment,  went  on:  "I  allowed  myself  to  grow  heated 
and  angry  a  little  while  ago  in  the  sick-room.  I  have  nerves 
and  hot  blood  like  other  people,  yet  I  blame  myself  for  giving 
way  to  my  feelings  while  discharging  my  duty,  and  to  quiet 
my  excited  nerves  I  came  in  here  to  get  this,"  he  touched  the 
little  bottle  as  he  spoke;  "  a  few  drops  taken  in  cold  water 
soothes  and  calms  the  greatest  excitement.  Will  you  drink  it?" 

She  lifted  the  crystal  glass  to  her  lips  and  obediently  drank 
its  contents  to  the  last  drop. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  were  a  witness  to  the  painful  scene 
between  Flora  and  myself  just  now,"  he  said,  slowly  and  em- 
phatically, taking  the  empty  glass  out  of  her  hand.  "  I  regret 
it  all  the  more,  because  by  a  few  judicious  words  from  me 
some  days  ago  we  might  have  avoided  the  discussion  altogether, 
perhaps."  He  smiled  such  a  grim  forced  smile  that  poor 
Kathe  shuddered.  "  I  am  plagued  with  such  confounded  beg- 
garly pride,  as  one  of  my  college  chums  once  remarked,  and  I 
am  not  given  to  talking  about  what  I  feel,  hence  this  *  beggar- 
ly pride '  has  developed  into  a  sort  of  Cassandra's  curse  on 
me.  The  world  mistakes  silence  for  incapacity,  and  judges 
accordingly.  I  see  lots  of  people  of  easy-going  natures,  not 
troubled  with  my  curse  and  satisfied  with  themselves,  able  to 
calculate  to  a  nicety  the  position  they  will  hold  after  so  many 
years'  work;  but  I — how  I  hate  it  all!  tbe  hollowness  of  the 
world  disgusts  me!"  And  he  stamped  his  foot  on  the  ground, 
i«s  if  crushing  some  venomous  reptile  to  death.  He  was  stili 


128  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUS1. 

excited,  still  wanting  in  his  usual  calm  self-possession  of  man- 
ner. His  whole  being  seemed  in  a  fever,  and  he  began  rest- 
lessly pacing  to  and  fro,  every  now  and  then  pausing  for  a  sec- 
ond to  look  at  the  photograph,  hung  over  his  writing-table,  of 
the  lovely  woman  who  had  raised  his  passion,  won  his  love, 
and  now  ruthlessly  sought  to  sever  herself  from  his  life.  Once 
she  had  responded  to  his  affection,  accepted  his  passionate  de- 
votion, and  promised  to  be  the  ideal  and  joy  and  loving  genius 
of  the  celebrated  and  far-famed  young  doctor's  home. 

But  that  had  all  passed  now;  he  had  found  out  by  degrees 
that  it  was  not  his  home  she  wished  to  shine  in,  but  a  brilliant, 
well-filled  drawing-room.  She  had  no  longing  now  to  be  his 
wife  and  loved  companion,  but  a  much-admired  queen  of 
society,  worshiped  and  lauded  for  her  beauty,  grace,  and  intel' 
lectual  endowments.  He  knew  all  this,  and  yet  even  in  answer 
to  her  prayer  for  freedom  from  her  engagement,  he  would  not 
give  her  up.  Kathe  looked  up  at  him  questioningly,  longing 
to  ask  if  he  still  meant  to  marry  Flora,  in  spite  of  her  ac- 
knowledgment that  the  love  she  had  once  given  him  had  since 
changed  into  hatred;  but  with  that  stern  expression  on  his  face 
she  dared  not  venture,  and  to  console  herself,  involuntarily 
frowned  at  the  smiling  picture  and  shook  her  head.  Then  she 
rose  and  prepared  to  leave  the  room. 

"  Yes,  you  must  go,  I  suppose,"  he  said,  standing  still  and 
looking  down  on  the  sweet  young  face  and  innocent  eyes  raised 
to  his. 

"  The  maid  arrived  just  before  I  left  Henriette's  room,  with 
a  message  from  Madame  Urach,  begging  you  and  Flora  to  join 
her  at  the  villa,  as  she  has  guests  to  tea  and  can  not  do  without 
her  young  ladies.  Don't  be  anxious  about  Henriette,  she  is 
doing  well,  and  I  give  you  my  word  that  there  is  no  danger  at 
present,  so  be  comforted  about  her;  I  will  take  the  teiiderest 
care  of  her,  you  may  be  sure — now  go;  those  drops  have  done 
you  good  already — 'J 

She  interrupted  him,  earnestly  entreating  to  be  allowed  to 
remain  and  nurse  her  sick  sister  through  the  night. 

"  No,  nothing  of  the  sort;  the  maid  is  quite  sufficient;  but 
before  you  go,  give  me  your  hand,  Kathe. "  He  held  out  his, 
and  she  laid  her  slender  fingers  in  it  without  a  second's  hesita- 
tion. "  And  now,  whatever  you  hear  said  about  me  this  even- 
ing, don't  be  led  into  condemning  me.  In  a  few  days  she  will 
think  differently,"  and  he  nodded  his  head  without  looking  up 
at  Flora's  portrait,  ' '  and  that  will  decide  me.  I  must  not. 
dare  not  reproach  myseli  with  taking  advantage  of  this  happy 
moment." 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  129 

looked  at  him,  us  if  asking  for  an  explanation  to  his 
words;  but  he  merely  shook  his  head  gently,  as  much  as  to 
say:  "  Yes,  so  it  is;" — and  neither  spoke. 

"  Good-night,  good-night!"  he  said,  presently,  and  letting 
go  her  hand  he  walked  over  to  the  table,  while  she  went  to- 
yard  the  door.  Involuntarily  she  turned  her  head  on  reach- 
ing the  threshold;  she  saw  him  raise  the  empty  crystal  glass .ix 
his  lips;  the  next  moment  it  had  fallen  to  the  floor,  dashed  ii 
a  hundred  pieces. 

When  Rathe  reached  the  sick-chamber  Flora  was  standin{ 
ready  dressed  for  going  home.  "  Where  have  you  been, 
child?"  she  asked,  sharply;  "  grandmamma  is  waiting  for  us, 
and  we  shall  get  a  sharp  reprimand  for  keeping  the  tea  stand- 
ing, and  all  from  your  fault/' 

Kathe  did  not  answer;  throwing  the  wrap  the  maid  had 
brought  round  her  head,  she  went  over  to  the  bedside.  Hen- 
riette  was  sleeping  gently,  and  the  fever  in  her  cheeks  seemed 
subdued;  softly  kissing  the  little  hand  on  the  coverlet,  the 
young  girl  followed  her  elder  half-sister  into  the  hall.  There 
a  footman  awaited  the  young  ladies,  with  lantern  in  hand,  to 
conduct  them  through  the  park  to  the  villa.  As  they  crossed 
the  old-fashioned  oaken  floor,  a  side-door  opened,  and  Dr. 
Bruck  appeared,  holding  in  his  hand  the  hasty  note  he  had 
written,  which  Kathe  had  so  falsely  mistaken  for  his  farewell 
to  the  world.  Her  cheeks  flushed  painfully  as  she  heard  him 
ask  the  fortman  to  take  it  to  the  house  of  one  of  the  doctors  in 
town,  and  wait  for  an  answer.  Without  glancing  at  his  face, 
the  young  girl  hurried  past  him,  and  entering  the  kitchen, 
bade  good-night  to  the  widow. 

A  few  moments  later  the  doctor's  aunt  opened  her  eyes 
wide  with  astonishment  on  entering  the  hall  to  find  that  Flora 
had  left  her  house  without  so  much  as  a  formal  good-night  or 
word  of  thanks;  but  she  said  nothing,  and  quietly  followed  her 
nephew  into  the  sick-room  to  see  that  all  was  satisfactorily  ar- 
ranged for  the  sick  girl's  comfort. 

Just  beyond  the  bridge,  Flora  stood  still  and  looked  back  at 
the  old-fashioned  house.  The  light  from  the  hall  shone  faintly 
on  her  face,  exhibiting  the  scornful  expression  which  curled 
her  mouth  as  she  muttered  aloud  in  ironical  tones: 

"  Certainly  the  old  place  is  to  my  taste — just  what  I  should 
like — a  hut  and  a  heart — a  husband  without  profession  or  in- 
fluence— a  skeleton  in  the  cupboard,  and  no  other  income 
than  my  miserable  pittance,  which  is  barely  enough  to  dress 
me  decently.  Never  before  to-day  have  I  realized  what  it  is 
to  be  humbled;  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  felt  oppressed 


130  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

and  overcome  by  all  those  poverty-stricken  surroundings  j  and 
I  shuddered  as  I  realized  the  narrow  escape  I  have  had  of  being 
tied  down  to  such  an  existence  for  life.  God  grant  Henriette 
may  get  over  this  attack,  for  I  shall  never  enter  that  house 
again — never — not  even  to  see  her  again.  How  I  have  been 
deceived,  to  be  sure.  Good  heavens!  I  shall  never  forgive  my- 
self for  being  so  blind  as  to  be  caught  by  him — " 

The  wind  blew  her  skirts  round  her  knees  and  loosened  the 
scarf  on  her  head,  and  the  water  dashed  in  a  fury  against  the 
stones  at  her  feet,  but  she  heeded  nothing;  her  thoughts  were 
concentrated  on  the  subject  of  her  unfortunate  engagement. 
She  went  back  a  few  steps,  and  stood  on  the  boards  of  the  old 
bridge. 

"  He  says  he  won't  give  me  up  in  spite  of  all  my  entreaties, 
and  all  I  have  told  him,"  she  said,  catching  hold  of  Kathe's 
arm  to  prevent  her  going  on;  "  you  were  there,  you  heard  him 
say  so.  What  a  poor,  mean-spirited  fellow  he  must  be,  to 
cling  so  tenaciously  to  the  letter  of  our  engagement,  when  he 
knows  the  spirit  of  it  has  gone  forever!  He  knows  he  has  de- 
ceived me  shamefully,  and  if  he  were  an  honorable  man  he 
would  release  me  from  our  bond.  Let  him — let  him  remem- 
ber for  the  rest  of  his  life  that  a  shadow  rests  on  his  honor — 
from  this  moment  I  am  free — free!" 

And  snatching  off  her  betrothal-ring,  she  flung  it  into  the 
seething  river  at  her  feet. 

"  Flora,  how  can  you!"  cried  Kathe,  in  an  agonized  tone, 
stretching  out  her  hand  as  if  to  recover  the  lost  ring,  which 
had  gleamed  for  a  second  in  the  dark  air,  then  disappeared 
forever  in  the  waters.  She  shuddered  too,  and  laid  her  hand 
over  her  eyes  as  if  she  feared  the  spirit  of  the  wronged  fair 
widow  would  rise  out  of  the  river  to  avenge  this  insult  to 
faithful  love. 

"  Don't  be  foolish,  Kathe — if  I  had  sprung  in  under  the 
waves  myself  you  couldn't  look  more  scared,"  said  Flora.  "  I 
have  no  doubt  that  many  a  woman  has  done  it  too  from  a  less 
cause;  I  have  simply  flung  away  the  last  link  of  a  hated  chain 
— it  was  merely  a  thin  gold  hoop,  '  simple  '  as  everything  else 
over  there,"  she  added,  caressing  the  third  finger  of  her  left 
hand,  and  nodding  toward  the  house  they  had  quitted;  "  and 
yet  it  felt  as  heavy  as  iron.  Well,  I've  done  it,  there  let  it  lie; 
a  new  life  is  before  me!" 

Yes,  she  had  thrown  off  the  yoke  at  last — "  thrown  it  off  at 
any  cost,"  as  she  had  often  threatened  to  do;  and  the  symbol 
of  the  bond  she  had  broken  lay  out  of  sight  under  the  rolling 
waters. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  131 

When  thtj  sisters  reached  the  villa,  a  man-servant  met  them 
in  the  hall,  and  informed  them  that  several  visitors  had  ar- 
rived, and  tea  was  to  be  served  in  ohe  large  drawing-room. 

"  All  the  better!"  remarked  Flora  to  Kathe.  "  I  am  not 
at  all  in  the  humor  for  a  lecture  from  grandmamma.  Old 
Madame  Steimitz  will  have  so  many  scandals  and  so  much  gos- 
sip to  retail,  that  I  and  my  actions  need  not  be  discussed  to- 
night.  I  shall  just  go  and  pour  out  tea  for  them,  and  thec 
retire  *to  my  own  room,  to  rejoice  in  and  enjoy  my  new-born 
freedom,"  she  added  in  a  whisper  to  Kathe,  as  they  separated 
at  the  top  of  the  stairs. 

But  Kathe  felt  too  upset  to  listen  to  the  gossip  going  on  in 
the  drawing-room,  and  sent  down  a  message  of  excuse  for  her 
absence  on  the  plea  of  severe  headache.  Her  heart  and  body 
both  ached,  and  the  blood  coursed  feverishly  through  her  veins, 
as  if  she  were  going  to  be  ill. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  next  morning  the  villa  was  in  a  state  of  commotion. 
Late  overnight  the  counselor  had  arrived  from  Berlin,  accom- 
panied by  two  friends,  and  before  retiring  to  rest  had  an- 
nounced to  the  housekeeper  that  he  had  invited  several  friends 
in  town  to  join  him  and  his  guests  at  breakfast  the  next  morn- 
ing. 

"  Now  mind,  the  notice  is  short,  I  allow,  but  I  expect  you 
to  do  your  best,  and  let  the  breakfast  be  first-rate.  About 
seven  or  eight  gentlemen  will  be  here  by  ten, "  he  added  to  the 
sleepy  and  astonished  woman,  who  knew  very  well  that  a 
"  first-rate  breakfast  "  was  not  such  an  easy  thing  to  prepare 
as  her  master  seemed  to  imagine,  especially  when  the  order 
was  given  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and  the  nearest  butcher's 
shop  was  two  or  three  miles  off. 

All  night  through  Kathe  had  been  wakeful.  The  wine/ 
howling  round  the  house,  added  to  the  excitement  of  the  day, 
prevented  her  sleeping.  For  hours  she  sat  at  her  window, 
watching  the  swaying  to  and  fro  of  the  trees  in  the  park,  and 
trying  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  gilded  weather-cock  over  the 
roof  of  the  house  by  the  river;  but  in  vain.  Every  now  and 
again,  in  her  anxiety  about  Henriette,  she  fancied  she  saw  a 
messenger  coming  along  the  path  on  that  side  of  the  park, 
bringing,  of  course,  the  worst  news  of  the  poor  little  invalid. 

The  wind  was  so  high  she  had  not  heard  the  approaching 
wheels  of  the  carriage  bearing  her  guardian  and  his  friends  to 
the  door;  and  it  was  with  a  start  of  surprise  that  she  saw  the 


132  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

servants  hurrying  to  and  fro  with  shaded  lanterns,  assisting 
the  gentlemen  to  alight.  She  had  not  been  looking  that  way 
at  all,  and  when  she  turned  her  head  and  suddenly  observed 
the  bright  light  from  the  hall  shining  on  the  figures  of  the  new 
arrivals,  and  glittering  on  the  silver  and  gold  ornaments  of  the 
harness,  together  with  the  flashing  of  the  lanterns  on  the 
bronze  and  marble  pillars  of  the  portico,  she  drew  back  fronv. 
ner  position  at  the  window,  imagining,  in  her  astonishment  at 
the  unexpected  scene  below,  that  she  herself  could  be  seen. 

She  recognized  the  tall,  elegant  figure  of  her  guardian  as  he 
sprung  down  from  the  curricle,  and  watched  the  kindly  way 
he  patted  the  horses'  necks  ere  he  entered  the  house,  with  a 
curiosity  and  wonder  quite  involuntary  on  her  part.  The 
whole  scene  was  so  noiseless  and  unexpected,  it  appeared  more 
like  a  fairy  dream  than  a  reality;  and  when  all  was  dark,  and 
the  last  light  had  disappeared,  she  threw  off  her  dressing-gown 
and  lay  down  on  her  bed. 

Early  dawn  was  creeping  in  at  the  windows  ere  she  closed 
her  eyes,  and  then  she  slept  till  a  couple  of  hours  later  than 
usual;  so  that  instead  of  reaching  the  house  by  the  river  soon 
after  six,  as  she  intended,  it  was  nine  o'clock  when  she  found 
herself  in  the  park. 

It  was  a  beautiful,  bright,  clear  morning;  the  wind  had 
lulled  at  sunrise,  and  the  air  was  sweet  with  the  perfume  of 
violets  and  other  spring  flowers. 

When  Kathe  reached  the  bridge,  the  water,  which  had  been 
so  turbulent  the  evening  before,  was  flowing  peacefully  along, 
glittering  in  the  sunlight  and  murmuring  under  the  worm- 
eaten  planks  with  a  soft,  gentle  gurgle  that  tempted  the 
young  girl  to  linger  by  its  side  and  listen  to  the  music  of  its 
voice. 

The  old  house  had  an  air  of  festivity  and  gayety  about  it 
that  attracted  Kathe 's  attention  and  made  her  wonder  what 
?ould  have  happened  to  give  it  such  a  joyous  appearance. 
The  path  leading  up  to  the  porch  was  sprinkled  with  the  finest 
silver  sand,  and  carefully  raked  in  a  pretty  zigzag  pattern. 
The  table  by  the  door  was  covered  with  a  clean  linen  cloth,  on 
which  stood  an  antique  vase  full  of  lovely  flowers  and  freshly 
cut  evergreens. 

The  faithful  old  servant,  who  has  been  with  her  mistress  so 
many  years,  was  standing  by  the  kitchen  door,  her  face  glow- 
ing with  happiness  and  soap  and  water,  her  sleeves  neatly 
pinned  above  her  elbows,  and  a  large  white  apron  half  hiding 
the  cleanest  and  freshest  of  cotton  skirts;  and  the  widow  her- 
*slf  was  dressed  as  if  she  ezoected  visitors.  It  was  scarcely 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  133 

nine  o'clock,  and  yet  she  wore  a  rich  brown  silk  dress  in  place 
of  the  usual  simple  stuff  jacket  and  skirt;  costly  lace  adorned 
her  throat  and  wrists,  and  a  cap  of  the  same  dainty  material 
partly  covered  her  silver  hair. 

"  Can  it  be  in  honor  of  Flora  ?"  thought  Kathe,  with  a 
tightened  feeling  at  her  heart;,  as  she  remembered  her  half-sis- 
ter's bitter  words  of  the  night  before.  "  Can  these  gay  prepara- 
tions be  meant  to  please  Flora,  who,  the  widow  imagines,  musL 
come  here  again  to  see  poor  Henriette?" 

But  the  widow  said  nothing  about  it  when  presently  she 
came  out  into  the  porch  and  greeted  the  young  girl  with  a 
smile.  Kathe  noticed  that  her  cheeks  were  flushed,  her  eyes 
full  of  tears,  and  her  voice  trembled,  but  that  a  happy,  pleased 
expression  shone  in  her  grand,  handsome  face,  as,  in  answer  to 
Kathe's  inquiry  of  how  the  patient  had  passed  the  night,  she 
tenderly  took  her  young  visitor  in  her  arms,  drew  her  to  her 
heart,  and  kissed  her  as  lovingly  as  a  mother  kisses  her  child, 
and  informed  her  that  Henriette  was  no  worse,  but,  if  any- 
thing, slightly  better. 

A  few  moments  later  Kathe  entered  the  sick-room,  blushing 
and  smiling  at  this  unusual  expression  of  affection  on  the 
widow's  part.  She  found  the  maid  combing  out  the  long  fair 
hair  of  the  invalid,  whose  small  thin  face,  sharp  cheek  bones, 
with  dark  rings  round  her  large  eyes,  looked  wan  and  ghastly 
in  the  morning  light.  Her  voice  was  stronger,  certainly;  but 
she  was  restless  and  fretful. 

She  told  Kathe,  with  kindling  eyes,  how  good  and  kind  her 
doctor  had  been,  how  he  had  sat  up  all  night,  how  he  had 
given  her  medicine  and  refreshment  with  his  own  hands,  and 
eased  her  aching,  burning  head  with  his  cool  fingers,  and  how 
k  he  had  gone  to  lie  down  now  for  an  hour  to  get  a  little  sleep 
before  going  into  town  to  see  his  patients.  Presently,  when 
the  long  hair  was  put  in  order,  face  and  hands  refreshed  with 
water,  and  her  pillows  smoothed,  she  begged  Kathe  to  go  back 
to  the  villa  and  fetch  a  book  she  had  promised  to  lend  to  the 
widow  to  read. 

"  I  want  it  at  once,  Kathe  dear.  I  told  her  she  should 
have  it — she  is  so  good  to  me — more  kind  than  I  can  tell  you; 
and  Flora  has  it,  I  know  it  is  in  her  room. "  Then  she  added, 
fretfully:  "  Don't  let  Flora  or  grandmamma  come  here.  I 
don't  want  them — they  worry  me;  but  if  Flora  should  come, 
then  tell  her  not  to  stay  long." 

She  little  guessed  how  needless  was  the  precaution,  or  what 
sad  and  painful  consequences  had  followed  her  feverish  wan- 
derings of  the  evening  before.  Kathe  could  scarcely  look  her 


134  IN    THE    COFtfSELOK'S    HOUSE. 

in  the  face  as  she  remembered  all  that  had  passed,  and  she  was 
very  glad  when  the  invalid  urged  her  to  go  for  the  book  at 
once,  and  to  bring  back  with  her  several  things  she  named 
from  off  the  writing-table  in  her  room. 

On  her  road  across  the  park  Kathe  could  think  of  nothing 
but  the  sad  havoc  twelve  hours'  fever  and  suffering  had  made 
in  Henrietta's  usually  thin,  pale  face.  The  sunken  features, 
death-like  pallor,  and  feverish  eyes  of  the  poor  little  invalid 
haunted  her.  Full  of  vague  fears  and  anxieties  as  to  the  re- 
sult of  yesterday's  accident  on  Henriette's  delicate  frame,  she 
was  absently  crossing  the  hall  to  mount  the  stairs  on  her  ar- 
rival at  the  villa,  when  her  attention  was  attracted  by  the  brill- 
iant appearance  of  the  breakfast-table,  seen  through  the  open 
door  of  the  dining-room.  The  glittering  silver,  costly  china 
and  glass,  and  exquisite  damask  cloth  and  serviettes  formed  a 
fitting  center  to  the  Oriental  walls,  marble  floors,  and  exotic 
plants  of  the  room  and  winter  garden  beyond.  On  a  magnifi- 
cent carved  stand  at  the  side  several  bottles  of  rare  and  old 
wines  were  conspicuous  for  their  grim  and  dust-covered  ap- 
pearance. 

She  stood  still  for  a  second,  fascinated  by  the  beauty  and 
elegance  of  the  room  thus  prepared  with  every  luxury  for  the 
delight  and  pleasure  of  the  counselor's  guests,  then  shuddered 
and  turned  away  as  Henriette's  death-like  countenance  rose  up 
before  her  mental  vision.  Slowly  mounting  the  stairs,  she 
gathered  together  the  few  things  Henriette  required  from  her 
room,  and  then  wended  her  steps  toward  Mme.  U  rach's  boudoir, 
to  pay  her  usual  dutiful  morning  respects  to  the  old  lady,  and 
inform  her  of  how  her  granddaughter  had  passed  the  night. 
Hesitating  for  a  moment  on  the  last  stair,  as  she  recognized 
the  postman's  voice  in  the  hall,  she  leaned  over  the  carved 
balustrade,  and  heard  one  of  the  men-servants  remark: 

"  Now,  really,  here  is  this  packet  come  back  again  for  the 
third  time!  I'm  sick  of  the  thing.  Our  young  lady  must 
think  I've  nothing  to  do  but  to  carry  it  into  town.  She'll  bo 
sure  to  send  it  somewhere  else  to-day.  I'm  half  inclined  to 
put  it  in  the  kitchen  fire  to  have  done  with  it. " 

;'  What's  in  it?"  asked  another. 

"  Oh!  only  a  lot  of  paper  on  which  Fraulein  Flora's  scrib- 
bled, as  big  as  you  please,  something  about  women's  rights.  I 
saw  the  title  when  I  stood  by  her  a  few  days  ago,  while  she 
wrote  the  fresh  address.  What  can  such  as  she  know  about — " 

Kathe  hurried  to  the  boudoir  and  knocked,  but  the  maid 
who  opened  the  door  told  her  that  her  mistress  had  a  visitor — 
«ie  of  the  ladies  from  the  court;  so  the  young  girl  turned 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  135 

away  and  retraced  her  steps  to  the  hall  to  fetch  the  book  from 
Flora's  sitting-room. 

Her  heart  beat  fast  as  she  opened  the  door  to  enter.  She 
had  no  desire  to  see  her  half-sister.  The  anger  and  indigna- 
tion she  had  felt  overnight  toward  her  for  her  ungenerous  and 
cruel  conduct  to  the  doctor  took  possession  of  her  again,  arid 
her  face  flushed  painfully  as  she  said:  "  Good-morning  "  in  a 
rather-constrained  tone. 

Flora  stood  at  the  table  in  no  very  amiable  mood,  and  her 
cheeks  flushed  also  as  she  returned  her  young  half-sister's 
greeting. 

But  it  was  not  regret  or  shame  of  last  night's  scene  that 
caused  the  angry  color  to  mount  to  her  brow.  A  letter  she 
had  just  finished  reading  and  flung  into  the  waste-paper  basket 
proved  that,  and  she  hastily  covered  over  the  packet  Kathe 
had  noticed  in  the  servant's  hand  not  five  minutes  ago  and 
which  now  lay  on  the  table  beside  several  other  letters  and 
papers. 

"  You  have  seen  Henriette,  have  you?  She  is  going  on  all 
right,  I  hear.  I  sent  down  at  eight  o'clock  to  inquire  how  she 
was.  What  a  thoughtless  man  Moriz  is!  Fancy  his  sending 
me  a  note  early  this  morning,  which  he  wrote  in  the  night, 
saying  that  he  wished  to  introduce  his  friends  to  grandmamma 
and  me  before  their  breakfast.  You  have  heard  he  ordered  a 
grand  breakfast  for  himself  and  friends  at  ten?  Just  as  if  the 
world  would  stand  still  if  we  did  not  see  these  *Aen!  Grand- 
mamma won't  be  pleased,  I  know.  How  do  you  like  my 
toilet?" 

"  As  usual,  you  look  lovely. " 

Flora  smiled.  If  what  is  said  is  true,  that  women  dress 
themselves  according  to  the  humor  of  the  moment,  then  Flora 
must  have  awoke  this  morning  in  a  very  happy  frame  of  mind, 
for  she  was  dressed  from  head  to  foot  in  a  soft  shimmering 
blue  that  was  very  becoming  both  to  her  complexion  and  fig- 
ure. Even  her  hair  was  ornamented  with  a  dainty  little  knot 
of  the  same  color.  But  whatever  humor  she  had  b^en  in  when 
she  made  her  toilet,  the  expression  on  her  beautiful  face  now 
was  one  of  discontent  and  irritation.  She  looked  thoroughly 
bad-tempered,  and  her  smile,  in  answer  to  Kathe's  exclama- 
tion of  admiration,  was  forced  and  constrained  and  more 
mechanical  than  voluntary.  She  made  no  reference  to  last 
night's  conversation.  On  the  third  finger  of  her  left  hand  two 
small  diamonds  flashed  where  the  pale  gold  betrothal-ring  had 
formerly  shone. 


136  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

At  Kathe's  request  she  turned  to  her  book-shelves  for  the 
desired  volume. 

"  Surely  Henriette  is  not  allowed  to  read?"  she  asked. 

"  Doctor  Bruck  would  forbid  it,  of  course.  No,  the  book 
is  for  his  aunt/'  replied  Kathe,  quietly,  as  she  held  out  her 
hand  for  the  volume. 

Flora's  mouth  curled  into  a  sneer,  and  her  eyes  flashed  dis- 
pleasure and  anger  at  Kathe  for  daring  to  utter  Dr.  Bruck'? 
name  in  her  presence.  Kathe  had  opened  the  door  and  was 
leaving  the  room  when  she  came  face  to  face  with  her  guard- 
ian, the  counselor,  who  looked  handsomer  than  usual  in  his 
gray  morning  suit,  and  had  an  excited  air  about  him  as  he 
hurried  forward,  exclaiming: 

"  There  you  are,  Kathe!  Don't  go.  I  must  first  convince 
myself  that  you  are  safe  and  well. " 

He  half  pushed,  half  led  her  back  into  the  room  in  a  playful 
manner,  shut  the  door,  and  flinging  his  hat  on  to  a  chair,  said: 

"  Now,  for  God's  sake,  tell  me  the  truth  about  your  hair- 
breadth escape  yesterday.  Anton  gave  me  a  confused  account 
of  it  while  I  was  dressing,  but  no  one  said  a  word  to  me  about 
it  last  night  for  fear  it  might  disturb  my  rest,  for  which  con- 
sideration I  am  not  thankful.  What  will  be  thought  of  me 
and  my  heedless  conduct?  There  is  Henriette  lying  dangerous- 
ly ill,  and  I  giving  a  champagne  breakfast  to  a  lot  of  fellows 
in  my  own  house!  What  on  earth  is  the  truth  of  the  affair? 
A  crowd  of  wretches  attacked  you?" 

"  Not  us — but  me  specially,  Moriz,"  said  Flora.  "  Hen- 
riette and  Kathe  had  to  suffer  simply  because  they  were  with 
me.  I  am  sorry  I  have  to  say  it;  but  I  must  reproach  you 
with  being  greatly  to  blame  for  the  attack.  You  ought  to  have 
acted  differently  at  the  first  sign  of  discontent  among  them. 
Such  a  rabble  as  those  workmen  ought  to  have  a  firm,  decided, 
masterful  hand  over  them.  But  you  from  the  very  beginning 
dallied  about  your  duty,  and  were  so  weak — " 

"  Weak  in  giving  way  to  you  and  your  grandmother,  if  you 
like,"  interrupted  her  brother-in-law,  white  with  anger. 
"  You  neither  of  you  gave  me  any  peace  till  I  had  withdrawn 
my  promise  about  the  land — and  thus  unnecessarily  irritated 
the  hands.  Bruck  was  right — 

"  Spare  me  there!"  exclaimed  Flora,  her  face  flushing  with 
rage.  "  If  you  have  no  other  authority  to  mention  but  him, 
then—" 

The  counselor  drew  nearer  his  angry  sister-in-law,  and  look- 
ing into  her  flashing  eyes,  with  110  little  astonishment  ex- 
pressed in  his  own,  asked,  earnestly: 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  137 

"  Flora,  do  you  mean  it?  are  you  still  so  hostile  toward 
him?" 

"  Do  you  think  I  am  such  a  weak-headed  fool  as  to  chang* 
my  opinions  as  often  as  one  does  one's  dress?"  she  asked,  bit- 

ingty- 

"  No,  not  so;  but  isn't  it  rather  too  daring  for  you  to  defy 
the  world's—" 

"  What  is  the  world  to  me?"  she  broke  in  with  a  loud 
laugh:  "  The  world — society!  Will  you  tell  me  then  how  it 
would  be  possible  to  make  '  society  '  accept  your  much-to-be- 
pitied  protege?" 

The  counselor  seized  her  hand,  and  for  a  moment  appeared 
speechless  from  surprise. 

"  Ha!  how  is  that  possible?"  he  gasped  rather  than  ex- 
claimed. "  Don't  you  know — " 

"  What  don't  I  know?"  she  broke  in  again  impatiently  as 
he  hesitated,  and  she  frowned  omniously  and  lightly  stamped 
her  foot. 

Before  he  had  time  to  reply  the  door  opened,  and  Mme. 
Urach  entered  the  room.  She  had  on  a  violet-colored  silk 
dress,  but  whether  or  not  it  was  the  color  that  ill  became  her, 
or  yesterday's  excitement  had  given  her  a  bad  night,  whichever 
it  was  she  looked  haggard  and  worn  and  very  much  distressed. 

The  counselor  hurried  toward  her  and  respectfully  kissing 
her  hand  regretted  he  had  not  been  able  to  wish  her  "  good- 
morning  "  half  an  hour  before.  He  had  been  to  her  boudoir, 
but  was  informed  that  she  was  engaged,  and  could  not  receive 
*him. 

"  Yes,  Fraulein  von  Berneck  was  with  me,  expressing  her 
sympathy  for  the  sad  state  Henrietta  is  in.  She  was  horrified 
at  hearing  of  the  attack  on  Flora,"  the  old  lady  replied.  "  We 
shall  have  a  trying  day  I  expect,  for  all  in  town  are  astonished 
and  excited  at  the  news,  and  our  friends  will  be  sure  to  come 
to  inquire  if  it  is  really  true. " 

She  sunk  down  in  the  nearest  easy-chair  with  a  lassitude 
and  want  of  energy  that  was  not  usual  with  her,  as  she  went 
on: 

"  The  lady-in-waiting  had  other  reasons  for  her  early  visit. 
I  know  her  well;  she  is  one  of  those  who  love  to  be  the  first  to 
.mpart  startling  news,  not  caring  or  stopping  to  consider  if  in 
so  doing  she  was  betraying  a  court  secret.  Imagine,  she  came 
to  congratulate  me  privately  on  the  good  fortune  which  is  to 
befall  our  house — and  I  hardly  know  5  I  ought  to  weep  or  re- 
joice over  it!  Good  heavens,  what  a  dilemma  it  has  put  me 
in!  It  is  really  shameful,  too,  the  way  our  court  is  proving  the 


138  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

truth  of  the  old  proverb  about  ingratitude,  instead  of  giving  ft 
good  example  to  the  contrary.  You  know  how  my  poor  old 
friend  Bar  has  sacrificed  himself  to  serve  the  court,  and  yet 
now  he  is  to  be  overlooked  and  ignored.  He  is  still  strong 
and  well,  and  yet  they  are  pensioning  him  off. " 

"  And  is  that  what  Fraulein  von  Berneck  came  to  congrata 
Jate  you  about?"  asked  Flora,  angrily. 

"  Of  course  not  that,  my  dear,"  answered  her  grandmothei 
with  more  energy.  "  Wonderful  things  are  happening,  Flora. 
Who  would  have  believed  an  hour  ago  that  Doctor  Bruck 
would  be  appointed  physician  to  the  prince?" 

"  Mere  court  scandal  and  gossip!  I  wonder  what  next  their 
inventive  heads  will  hit  upon,"  laughed  Flora.  "  Court  phys- 
ician indeed!  And  you  listened  to  such  nonsense,  grand- 
mamma, and  let  that  old  tittle-tattler  congratulate  you?" 

"  Now  really  it  is  hardly  possible  to  believe  that  civilized 
beings  living  close  to  a  capital  town  don't  read  the  news- 
papers!" cried  the  counselor,  clapping  his  hands  together. 

You  don't  mean  to  say  you  have  no  idea  of  what  is  going 
on?  and  I  came  back  a  day  sooner  simply  on  that  account;  I 
could  not  stay  away  for  joy.  The  newspapers  are  full  of  the 

wonderful  operation  Bruck  performed  in  L the  other  day. 

You  must  know  the  hereditary  prince  was  at  L studying 

there;  he  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  and  hurt  his  head  so 
seriously  that  none  of  the  doctors  dared  undertake  the  neces- 
sary operation,  not  even  Professor  H himself.  Then  some 

one  suddenly  remembered  that  Bruck  had  treated  a  similar 
case  in  the  late  war,  and  to  every  one's  astonishment  brought 
his  patient  successfully  through  the  operation.  So  he  was  tele- 
graphed for  to  the  prince — ' 

"  What,  your  Doctor  Bruck,  your  protege?"  interrupted 
Flora,  trying  to  laugh,  but  her  pale  lips  seemed  turned  into 
stone,  and  her  whole  face  turned  white  as  death. 

"  Certainly,  my  Bruck,  as  I  am  only  too  proud  to  call 
him/'  replied  her  brother-in-law  good-naturedly,  too  decidedly 
glad  at  the  happy  turn  things  had  taken  to  notice  Flora's 
Biieer.  Long  ago  he  had  ceased  to  feel  any  scruples  of  con- 
science relative  to  his  silence  on  the  subject  of  the  late  miller's 
death;  he  had  almost  ceased  to  think  about  it,  for  he  was  a 
true  son  of  modern  days — an  egotist — who  in  the  choice  be- 
tween "  he  "  or  "  I "  never  hesitated  for  a  second  to  pro- 
nounce in  favor  of  "I,"  while  he  was  glad  that  the  clouds 
which  had  lately  hung  heavy  and  dark  over  the  young  doctor's 
career  were  clearing  away,  and  that  sunshine  was  streaming  ot 
his  head  again. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOS'S  HOUSE.  139 

•4  Besides,"  he  went  on,  '  a  pamphlet  of  his  is  making  a 
great  sensation  among  the  faculty.  It  appears  he  has  some 
theory  of  his  own  about  operations  in  general  which  he  wants 
adopted.  It  is  by  no  means  to  be  denied  that  Bruck  has  a 
grand  career  open  before  him." 

"Who  would  believe  it!"  remarked  Flora  in  a  strangely 
subdued  tone.  Doubt  and  mistrust  visible  in  every  feature, 
she  looked  for  a  moment  like  a  gambler  risking  his  last  hope 
on  the  card  he  was  playing.  "  You  don't  convince  me,  Moriz, 
with  all  that  nonsense;  either  there  is  some  mistake  in  the 
name,  or  the  whole  story  is  a  trumped-up  affair. " 

As  his  sister-in-law  uttered  these  bitter  words  the  counselor 
forgot  his  usual  courteous  manner  before  ladies,  and  not  only 
stamped  his  foot  in  a  passion  but  turned  on  his  heel  and 
walked  away. 

Meanwhile  Mme.  Urach  was  anxiously  watching  her  grand- 
daughter's countenance.  She  could  thoroughly  understand 
how  bitterly  she  must  regret  having  despised  and  slandered  a 
man  who  had  proved  himself  worthy  of  honor  and  respect.  It 
was  certainly  a  sad  defeat  for  the  proud  woman,  but  the  well- 
experienced  worldly  dame  tried  to  make  the  best  of  it  for  her 
grandchild. 

"  It's  of  no  use  disbelieving  the  affair,  Flora,"  she  said.  **  In 
the  end  you  will  be  forced  to  accept  it  as  a  fact.  I,  for  my 
part — wonderful  as  it  all  seems — don't  doubt  it  for  a  moment 

The  Duke  of  D is  the  young  prince's  uncle.    I  don't  won- 

'der  that  he  is  thankful  and  happy  at  his  nephew's  escape. 
Yesterday  evening  I  saw  the  grand  Darmstadt  decoration  lying 
on  Doctor  Bruck's  table." 

"  And  you  tell  me  that  now,  grandmamma?  now  for  the 
first  time?"  cried  Flora,  as  if  mad.  "Oh!  why  didn't  you 
speak  of  it  last  night?  why  did  you  keep  silence  about  it  so 
long?" 

Keep  silence?"  repeated  the  old  lady,  angrily  shaking  her 
head  with  a  nervous  movement  not  unusual  with  ladies  of  her 
age.  '  You  impertinent  girl !  I  should  like  to  know  what 
else  kept  me  from  mentioning  the  fact,  except  that  for  months 
past  we  have  hardly  dared  mention  Bruck's  name  in  your  pres- 
ence without  a  scene.  I  have  avoided  as  much  as  possible — " 

"  If  my  conduct  had  your  sanction,  chere  grandmere — " 

"  I  avoided  this  mention  of  his  name  because  it  always  up- 
sets me  to  witness  outbursts  of  feeling.  You  have  been  his 
bitterest  opponent,  have  judged  and  condemned  him  more 
severely  than  his  enemies,  and  the  slightest  attempt  to  exoner- 
ate him  always  puts  y.ou  in  a  passion.  Moriz  and  Henrietta 


140  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE, 

could  tell  a  tale  about  that,  and  haven't  you  even  how  showed! 
the  scoffing  way  you  take  with  Moriz  whenever  he  tries  to 
screen  the  young  man?  How  have  you  just  received  the  good 
news  of  his  advancement?" 

The  old  lady  must  have  been  terribly  put  out  to  refer  in  this 
open  manner  to  Flora's  disgraceful  behavior  to  her  lover  dur- 
ing the  past  few  months.  It  was  so  contrary  to  her  usual 
habit  of  silence  as  regards  her  family's  faults  before  others 
that  the  haughty  girl  was  dumb  from  astonishment.  Standing 
by  the  window  with  her  back  to  her  grandmother,  the  quick 
heaving  of  her  bosom  showed  how  she  was  struggling  with 
herself  to  keep  her  feelings  within  bounds. 

"  Tell  me  when  I  ought  to  have  imparted  to  you  my  discov- 
ery of  the  order?"  the  old  lady  went  on  presently.  "  Yester- 
day evening,  before  my  guests,  when  you  barely  remained  half 
an  hour  in  the  drawing-room,  though  you  knew  I  wished  you 
to  help  me  to  entertain  them?  or  in  the  doctor's  house  earlier 
in  the  afternoon,  where  I  did  not  see  you  for  a  moment  alone, 
and  where  you  sat  in  your  corner  looking  the  picture  of  dis- 
gust at  your  lover's  poor  surroundings?" 

"  You  will  be  kind  enough  to  remember,  dear  grandmamma, 
that  that  troubled  you  as  well  as  me;  the  same  thing  concerns 
us  both,  as  you  know  very  well. " 

' '  My  dear,  it  is  of  no  use  talking  to  you,  you  turn  and  twist 
everything  to  please  yourself,  and  you  have  very  little  respect 
for  truth  where  a  falsehood  suits  your  purpose,"  retorted  the 
old  lady  with  an  impatient  movement  of  her  hand  which  scat- 
tered several  papers  lying  on  the  table.  Endeavoring  to  gather 
them  together,  her  eye  lighted  on  the  packet  returned  to  Flora 
by  the  postman. 

"Ah!  has  that  article  found  its  way  back  again  after  its 
zigzag  journeyings  hither  and  thither?"  she  exclaimed,  point- 
ing to  the  packet.  "  I  should  have  thought  you  would  have 
left  it  in  peace  in  the  waste-basket  long  ago.  This  continual 
Bending  to  and  fro,  and  the  refusal  of  the  publishers  to  accept 
the  work,  would  be  unbearable  to  me.  "What  a  storm  there 
would  be  if  one  of  us  were  to  venture  to  protest  against  your 
possessing  talent  and  power  enough  to  write,  and  yet  every 
month  or  so  you  allow  it  to  be  told  you  by — ' 

"  Don't  excite  yourself,  dear  grandmamma!  You  can  make 
a  mistake  like  other  people,  sometimes,"  interrupted  Flora 
with  a  speaking  glance  at  Kathe,  who  had  been  forced  into 
hearing  similar  statements  made  the  evening  before.  '  You 
are  not  yourself  this  morning,  you  are  upset  at  the  thought  of 
losing  your  influential  friend  at  court.  1  pity  you,  dear  grand- 


IN    THE   COUNSELORS    HOUSE.  141 

mamma,  because  I  don't  think  Doctor  Bruck  will  come  to  be 
an  intermedium  between  you  and  the  royal  family;  not  even 
for  love  of  me  would  he  retail  scandal.  But  sorry  as  I  am  for 
you,  I  don't  see  why  I  need  be  sacrificed  to  please  any  one,  so 
I  shall  take  myself  off  till  you  are  in  a  better  frame  of  mind.'" 

And  gathering  her  papers  together,  she  swept  across  the 
floor  and  vanished  behind  the  door  of  her  dressing-room. 

"  She  is  a  very  peculiar  girl,"  said  the  old  lady,  with  a  sigh. 
"  She  doesn't  take  after  her  mother,  who  was  softness  and 
sweetness  itself.  Her  father  spoiled  her  by  allowing  her  to 
head  his  table  when  she  was  quite  a  young  girl,  almost  a  child. 
I  told  him  several  times  he  was  doing  her  harm,  but  one  might 
as  well  have  spoken  to  the  wind.  You  know,  Moriz,  how  ob- 
stinate he  could  be  when  once  he  had  taken  an  idea  into  his 
head/' 

Kathe  moved  toward  the  door  to  leave  the  room,  for  it 
pained  her  to  hear  her  dead  father  reproached  for^  Flora's 
faults,  however  much  those  faults  might  have  been  encouraged 
by  his  own  mode  of  bringing  her  up,  and  reproached,  too,  by 
his  mother-in-law,  whose  presence  in  his  house  he  had  good 
reasons  for  refusing. 

"  You  are  so  pale,  Kathe,  and  look  so  wan  and  tired,  I 
think  you  must  be  suffering  from  yesterday's  excitement. 
Poor  little  one!"  said  her  guardian,  following  her  and  taking 
her  hand  as  he  glanced  kindly  in  her  face. 

"  I  have  noticed  her  change  color  at  a  mere  nothing  for  sev- 
eral days  past,  and  she  is  so  serious  too,"  remarked  Mme. 
Urach,  quickly,  before  the  young  girl  had  time  to  speak. 
"  I  know  what  ails  her;  she  is  homesick,  and  no  wonder,  too; 
she  is  accustomed  to  the  quiet,  regular  life  of  a  simple  family 
where  she  is  made  much  of,  and  where,  of  course,  every  wish 
and  whim  of  the  rich  pupil  becomes  law.  It  is  quite  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  indulge  her  to  the  same  extent;  our  household  is 
on  a  different  scale,  we  live  in  the  world,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  she  feels  the  constant  society  around  her  here  is  too  much 
and  too  exciting;  am  I  right,  dear  child?"  she  asked,  stroking 
the  girl's  cheek  softly. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  contradict  you,  madame — but  I  must  say 
no,"  answered  Kathe,  in  her  ringing  young  voice,  drawing 
back  her  head  as  if  she  objected  to  the  caress.  "  I  was  not 
made  much  of,  nor  were  my  whims  and  fancies  regarded  as 
law  in  the  house  of  my  dear  kind  governess.  I  was  brought 
up  very  strictly,  I  can  assure  you — and  since  I  have  been  rich  " 
• — and  she  laughed  with  a  mischievous  twinkle  in  her  eye — "  I 
think  my  faults  have  not  been  ocutloned  so  easily  as  they  used 


142  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

to  be.  And  I  am  not  so  unaccustomed  to  society  as  you  im- 
agine, madame.  Our  rooms  are  so  small  in  Dresden,  we  can 
not  have  many  whist-tables — but  we  had  charming  evenings 
without  cards,  when  the  professors  of  the  academy  and  other 
friends  would  enliven  us  with  their  delightful  conversation: 
or  when  some  celebrated  musician  would  come  to  us,  and  be 
compelled  to  play  on  my  poor  worn-out  piano. "  Her  lips 
quivered  with  suppressed  merriment,  but  there  was  a  decided 
shade  of  sarcasm  discernible  in  the  tones  of  her  voice,  as  shb 
drew  up  her  figure  and  looked  straight  at  Mme.  Urach. 
"  There  is  one  thing  I  am  thankful  for,"  she  went  on,  "  and 
that  is,  that  I  was  taught  not  to  think  of  myself  when  an- 
other's comfort  and  happiness  were  at  stake.  Don't  be 
shocked,  Moriz!"  she  added,  facing  round  fearlessly  on  her 
guardian.  "  Let  me  stay  on  here  some  time  longer,  will  you, 
for  Henriette's  sake?" 

"  Bless  me — I  have  no  other  desire  or  wish  than  that  you 
should  remain,"  he  replied  so  fervently  that  Kathe  was  aston- 
ished. 

Mme.  Urach  was  standing  by  the  table  turning  over  the 
leaves  of  a  book,  apparently  more  interested  in  what  she  saw 
there  than  in  the  young  girl's  remarks. 

"  Of  course  you  shall  stay  here  as  long  as  you  like,  my  dear, 
but  we  must  not  let  you  sacrifice  yourself  to  your  affection. 
Kanni  takes  all  possible  care  of  Henriette — she  is  accustomed 
to  her  delicate  state,  too — besides,  there  is  my  maid  to  assist 
her,  if  needful.  You  can  go  home,  dear  child,  and  be  at  ease 
about  Henriette;  she  will  be  well  attended  to." 

"  Let  the  motive  be  what  it  may,  grandmother,  it  is  enough 
that  Kathe  wishes  to  remain  with  us,"  remarked  the  coun- 
selor, quickly,  still  looking  earnestly  at  the  bright  young  girl 
at  his  side,  as  he  added:  "Besides,  I  was  so  sure  you  were 
going  to  stay  some  time  among  us,  Kathe,  that  I  ordered  your 
new  pianoforte — ha!  and  a  splendid  instrument  it  is  too- 
worth  twenty  such  gimcracks  as  that  one  in  the  drawing-room, 
and  I  ordered  it  to  be  sent  here  direct." 

"  But,  Moriz,  how  could  you?"  cried  the  girl,  in  a  startled 
voice.  "  Dresden  is  and  always  will  be  my  home — it  ought  to 
have  gone  there — I  only  visit  here,  you  know;"  then  laugh- 
ing, she  added,  merrily:  "  Am  I  to  carry  a  grand  piano  about 
with  me  as  part  of  my  luggage?" 

"  I  fancy  you  will  think  differently  in  reference  to  Dresden 
some  day,"  he  replied,  with  a  slight,  expressive  smile.  "  Any 
way,  the  instrument  arrives  to-morrow,  and  will  be  placed  in 
your  room  for  the  present." 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  143 

Mme.  TJrach  closed  the  book  in  her  hand  with  a  sharp  snap, 
but  she  spoke  in  her  usual  indifferent  manner. 

"  You  are  making  arrangements,  Moriz,  which  will  upset 
several  plans  of  mine,  though  of  course  that  won't  matter  very 
much.  But  I  shall  be  obliged  to  write  to  Baroness  von  Steiner 
to-day,  and  postpone  her  intended  visit. " 

"I  don't  see  why." 

"  The  room  Kathe  occupies  now  was  intended  for  her  com 
panion.  You  know  she  never  goes  anywhere  without  her. " 

The  counselor  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  but  naturally  Kathe,  my  ward,  remains 
where  she  is." 

Opposition  from  him!  He  dared  to  look  her  coolly  in  the 
face,  and  announce  that  Baroness  von  Steiner  must  yield  to 
Kathe — he  who  formerly  moved  heaven  and  earth  and  consid- 
ered nothing  a  sacrifice  to  obtain  guests  of  rank  and  position 
to  visit  at  his  house! 

The  old  lady  bit  her  lip  and  raised  her  brows. 

"  I  will  write  at  once  to  my  friend,"  she  said,  "  and  explain 
the  unfortunate  position  I  am  in.  I  regret  it,  I  must  say,  be- 
cause, of  course,  I  could  not  foresee  what  would  happen. " 

She  rose,  gathered  her  skirts  together,  and  was  leaving  the 
.room  when  Kathe  sprung  forward  and  detained  her. 

"  No,  no,  madame,  you  must  not  do  it.  You  can't  be  in 
earnest,  Moriz,"  she  said,  turning  to  her  guardian.  "  You 
can't  really  mean  to  make  madame's  guests  give  way  to  a 
young  girl  like  me?  It  must  not  be.  Besides,  haven't  I  a 
house  of  my  own?  I  will  take  up  my  quarters  at  the  Mill- 
house  as  soon  as  Baroness  von  Steiner  arrives. " 

"  That  I  can't  allow,  my  dear  Kathe;  indeed  I  can't,"  re- 
plied the  old  lady,  severely.  The  proud  haughtiness  of  her 
nature  flashed  in  her  eyes  as  she  went  on:  "I  am  not  a  very 
severe  person — your  mother  never  had  any  reason  to  complain 
of  unfriendliness  on  .  my  side — but  the  intimate  relations  that 
would  ensue  between  tha  Mill-house  and  the  villa  I  could  not 
tolerate — the  running  to  and  fro  would  vex  me  to  death;  be- 
sides, I  would  not  have  such  a  thing  known  to  my  friend  for 
anything;  she  would  be  simply  horrified.  Moriz,  you  will  fimd 
me  in  the  blue  drawing-room  when  you  wish  to  introduce  your 
friends. "  And  with  a  slight  inclination  of  the  head,  she  left 
the  room. 

The  counselor  waited  till  the  rustling  of  her  silk  skirts  had 
ceased  in  the  distance  and  the  door  of  her  boudoir  was  sharply 
closed  ere  he  turned  to  Kathe  and  with  a  light  laugh  re- 
marked: 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

have  had  quite  a  lecture!  The  old  lady  lets  ]ier  claws 
be>  ftilt  in  spite  of  her  soft  velvet  paws — doesn't  she?  But  she 
Tvoi\'t  be  able  to  do  it  much  longer.  Poor  old  dame,  she  has 
had  a  heavy  blow,  and  feels  it,  but  she  is  harmless  now.  With 
her  old  friend  Bar's  retirement  from  court,  her  influence  there 
and  in  society  is  at  an  end."  He  rubbed  his  hands  with  de- 
light. "  Don't  you  yield  an  inch  to  her,  Kathe,  dear;  you  have 
more  right  in  my  house  than  any  one  else — remember  that!" 

A  servant  entered  as  he  was  speaking,  and  announced  that 
his  friends  awaited  him  in  the  drawing-room.  Snatching  up 
his  hat  he  offered  Kathe  his  arm,  but  she  slipped  past  him  and 
went  out  into  the  hall. 

Her  guardian's  manner  and  tone  toward  herself  did  not 
please  her  at  all,  neither  did  she  admire  him  for  laughing  at 
the  old  lady  as  soon  as  her  back  was  turned,  when  in  her  pres- 
ence he  was  almost  subserviently  respectful.  The  young  girl 
felt  uncomfortable,  and  it  was  with  a  sigh  of  intense  relief 
that  she  turned  her  back  on  the  red-curtained  room,  and  wend- 
ed her  way  through  the  fresh  sweet  morning  air  to  the  house 
by  the  river. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

WHEN  Kathe  returned  to  the  doctor's  house,  she  found  the 
sick-room  furnished  with  the  same  simple  furniture  it  had  had 
when  Henriette  was  first  carried  in  there  and  laid  on  the  bed. 

Dr.  Brnck  had  yielded  to  the  sick  girl's  passionate  desire  to 
have  the  things  from  the  villa  removed  out  of  her  sight,  so 
they  were  piled  together  and  placed  in  a  corner  of  the  wide 
hall.  The  green  damask  fauteuil,  elegant  fire-screen,  and 
costly  carpet — even  the  gold-bordered  washing  apparatus — had 
been  banished  from  the  room,  and  the  simple  stone-ware  old- 
fashioned  screen  and  chintz-covered  arm-chair  put  back  in 
their  places.  The  tiny  fountain  freshened  the  air  with  water 
supplied  from  a  red  earthen  basin,  and  on  a  table  by  the  bed- 
side stood  Henriette's  canary  cage,  which  had  been  fetched 
from  the  villa  at  her  express  wish.  Her  favorite  bird  flew 
in  and  out  of  the  cage  door  as  unconcernedly  as  if  he  had  been 
at  home,  hopped  over  the  bed,  picked  bits  of  sugar  from  the 
little  invalid's  weak  fingers,  and  perched  on  the  curtain-rings 
over  the  windows,  to  the  delight  and  amusement  of  his  mis- 
tress. 

At  noon  the  maid  had  been  dispatched  to  the  villa  to  take  a 
few  hours'  rest,  the  widow  undertaking  to  watch  over  her  in- 
valid guest  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  She  still  wore  the  rich 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  145 

brown  silk  dress  and  dainty  lace;  but  to  avoid  the  rustling  of 
her  skirt  against  the  furniture,  she  had  covered  it  with  a  large 
linen  apron,  fastened  around  her  waist. 

When  Kathe  reached  Henriette's  bedside,  she  found  that 
her  half-sister  was  already  aware  of  the  happy  change  in  the 
young  doctor's  prospects.  It  appears  that  Nanni  had  seen  one 
of  the  gentlemen  of  the  court  arrive  in  the  hall  soon  after 
Kathe's  departure  for  the  villa;  had  seen  him  greet  the  widow 
with  a  warmth  and  respect  that  raised  the  curiosity  of  the  serv- 
ing-woman, who  had  immediately  gone  to  her  young  mistress 
and  told  her  of  the  unusual  and  early  visit,  and  that  the  gen- 
tleman was  talking  with  the  doctor  and  his  aunt  in  their  sit- 
ting-room. As  soon  as  the  visitor  had  driven  off  in  his  car- 
riage, Henriette's  impatience  and  curiosity  got  the  better  of 
her;  she  sent  for  Dr.  Bruck,  and  questioned  and  cross-ques- 
tioned him  about  his  noble  visitor,  till  he  had  satisfied  her  by 
telling  her  the  whole  history  of  the  successful  operation,  and 
its  happy  results. 

"  They  expected  the  visit  this  morning,  so  that  is  why  the 
dear,  dear  old  lady  is  dressed  in  her  best,  Kathe;  doesn't  she 
.look  nice?"  asked  Henrietta,  later  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
two  girls  were  alone. 

The  doctor  had  gone  to  the  palace  to  have  an  interview  with 
the  prince,  and  his  aunt  was  busy  in  some  household  duty  in 
her  own  room.  The  invalid  was  propped  up  in  bed,  her  pale 
wan  face  radiant  with  heartfelt  joy  and  happiness.  She  had 
been  forbidden  to  speak,  for  the  cry  of  delight  she  had  uttered, 
when  earlier  in  the  day  the  doctor  had  informed  her  of  his 
good-fortune,  had  exhausted  her  so  completely  that  he  had 
feared  a  return  of  yesterday's  hemorrhage.  For  hours  she  had 
been  obedient,  had  hardly  opened  her  lips,  and  had  refrained 
from  asking  either  him  or  his  aunt  a  single  question  relative  to 
the  subject  uppermost  in  her  mind;  but  now  that  she  was 
alone  with  Kathe,  and  the  widow's  warning  finger  was  no 
longer  there  to  stop  the  words  which  rose  to  her  lips,  she 
started  up  in  bed,  and  after  telling  Kathe  all  she  knew,  and 
before  Kathe  had  time  to  answer  her  question  about  the  widow, 
she  "became  suddenly  very  excited,  and  said : 

"  Where  is  Flora?" 

"  You  know  your  grandmamma  has  sent  over  several  times 
to  say  that  she  has  such  a  constant  succession  of  visitors,  she 
can't  escape  away  just  yet,  though  she  is  longing  to  come  and 
see  you,  dear." 

"  Grandmamma,  indeed!"  exclaimed  Henriette,  impatiently 
jerking  herself  on  her  pillows.  "  Who  wants  her?  Let  her 


146  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE, 

remain  where  she  is.  I  spoke  of  Flora. "  Then,  clasping  her 
hands  together  and  leaning  toward  her  sister,  she  added: 
"  Isn't  that  a  splendid  justification  for  him,  Kathe!  How  I 
thank  God  I  have  lived  to  see  and  know  it!  How  I  hope  he 
won't  go  to  the  villa  on  his  return  from  the  palace.  I  must 
see  him  and  Flora  meet  for  the  first  time  aiter  this  grand  news 
—I  must.  I  do  so  long  to  see  her  humiliate  herself  before 
him—I— " 

"  Henriette,  don't  talk  so  much;  you  will  excite  yourself," 
Kathe  entreated. 

"  Let  me  alone;  I  will  talk,"  she  went  on,  angrily.  "  It 
the  doctor  knew  what  suffering  he  inflicts  on  me  by  obliging 
me  to  hold  my  tongue,  he  would  let  me  talk."  Then,  lean- 
ing on  her  elbow,  and  passing  her  hand  through  her  thick,  fair 
hair,  she  asked :  "  Do  you  remember,  Kathe,  how  Flora  sneered 
at  the  doctor  when  he  returned  from  that  journey  lately  and 
told  him  to  his  face  he  had  only  been  amusing  himself  for  the 
few  days  he  was  absent?"  Her  eyes  grew  excited  and  feverish, 
and  had  the  same  wild  expression  in  them  as  in  her  delirium 
of  the  evening  before. 

Kathe  tried  to  soothe  and  quiet  her,  but  it  was  of  no  use. 

"  Don't  you  remember,  too,  how  angry  she  was  with  Moriz 
because  he  suggested  Doctor  Bruck  had  gone  to  see  a  patient? 
No,  no;  if  she  were  to  beg  on  her  knees  for  forgiveness,  it 
could  not  atone  for  her  malice  and  wickedness  to  that  man ! 
Her  conduct  has  been  shameful — shameful!  I  would  give 
anything  to  be  able  to  see  into  her  heart  just  now!  \\hat 
humiliation  for  her!  She  deserves  it,  doesn't  she?  I  should 
think  she  won't  be  able  to  look  us  in  the  face  when  next  we 
meet — or  him  either.  Do  you  think  she  will?  When  will  she 
come  here?" 

Kathe  was  silent  by  the  bedside,  as  silent  and  still  as  if  she 
had  been  the  culprit.  Her  angry  and  indignant  invalid  sister 
had  no  idea  that  Flora's  feet  were  not  likely  to  pass  the  thresh- 
old of  the  doctor's  house  again;  neither  did  she  know  that 
Flora  had  herself  snapped  the  last  link  of  the  chain  which 
bound  her  to  her  lover,  by  throwing  the  simple  gold  hoop 
which  formed  her  engagement-ring  into  the  foaming  waves 
under  the  bridge.  And  who  was  to  tell  her  this?  Who  was 
to  let  her  know  the  sad  consequences  of  her  last  night's  half- 
delirious  ravings? 

"  Why  don't  you  speak,  Kathe?"  Henriette  grumbled. 
"  Have  you  cold  blood  in  your  veins,  that  you  are  so  little  in- 
terested in  this  affair?  Of  course,  you  don't  know  us  very  well 
jet;  and  you  can't  be  expected  to  feel  as  deeply  about  the  affair 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSB.  147 

ss  I  do.  You  have  seen  the  doctor  so  seldom,  and  have  hardly 
spoken  ten  words  to  him;  so  I  suppose  he  does  not  interest 
you.  But  you  have  seen  Flora's  detestable  behavior,  have 
heard  the  heartless  way  she  has  spoken  to  and  of  her  lover; 
and  surely  you  must  be  glad  that  she  is  punished — that  justice 
is  being  meted  out  to  her?" 

Kathe  looked  up,  and  her  flashing  eyes  and  the  rush  of  blocx* 
to  her  cheeks  and  brow,  dying  even  the  snow-white  throat, 
were  proof  positive  that  the  blood  within  her  was  warm  ana 
passionate. 

"  And  if  her  punishment  is  carried  out  to  the  full,  and 
Flora  has  to  acknowledge  her  falseness  and  heartlessness,  what 
then?  What  good  will  that  do  to  the  injured  man?"  she 
asked,  in  a  low,  constrained  tone.  ' '  Flora  has  expressed  aver- 
sion and  dislike  to  the  doctor,  you  say.  Well,  his  being  raised 
to  a  position  at  court  can't  possibly  make  her  love  for  him  re- 
turn." 

"  Certainly,  without  doubt  it  will.  Flora  has  such  a  pitiful 
ambitious  disposition,"  replied  the  invalid,  in  a  bitter,  con- 
templative tone.  "  And  he?  You  will  see  that  the  very  first 
attempt  she  makes  at  reconciliation,  he  will  forget  the  past  as 
if  it  had  never  happened." 

She  shut  her  eyes  and  shook  her  head  for  a  moment  ere  add- 
ing, in  a  whisper:  "  If  only  love  were  not  such  an  unfathom- 
able enigma!  He  loves  her  as  much  as  ever.  How  else  can 
one  account  for  his  strange  toleration  of  all  her  willful,  wicked 
caprices?  If  Satan  himself  looked  out  through  her  beautiful 
face,  and  her  hands  were  raised  to  strike  him,  he  would  still 
love  her,  and  take  her  hands  and  tenderly  caress  them. " 

After  awhile  she  half  hid  her  pale  face  on  the  pillows — the 
bitter  smiles  playing  round  the  corners  of  her  colorless,  drawn 
lips  were  painful  to  see — and  said,  in  a  distinct  voice: 

"  If  she  offers  reconciliation,  he  will  accept  it  with  joy,  and 
be  as  happy  as  he  was  some  months  ago;  so  the  best  thing  f or- 
al 1  of  us  to  do  is  to  ignore  her  late  bad  behavior,  and  never 
allow  it  to  be  referred  to  again  among  us." 

Kathe  did  not  reply.  No  answer  seemed  to  be  expected 
from  her  by  the  invalid,  who  was  impatiently  awaiting  the  mo- 
mentary return  of  the  young  doctor,  whose  happiness  she  was 
so  anxious  to  see  secured.  What  if  Flora  did  not  come,  and  it 
was  at  last  necessary  to  tell  her  that  the  faithless  bride  had,  by 
one  rash  act,  put  a  summary  ending  to  the  long  torment  she 
had  been  lately  inflicting  on  her  devoted  lover?  "  Then  you 
will  cease  to  mention — never  come  near  our  house, "  Henrietta 


148  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

liact  moaned  ont  in  delirium  the  evening  before  to  the  young 
doctor. 

Sitting  there  by  the  bedside,  Kathe  had  time  to  revolve  in 
her  mind  all  she  had  seen  and  heard  about  this  unhappy  en- 
gagement: the  strange  conduct  of  the  bride-elect,  her  chilling 
neglect  and  openly  expressed  contempt  for  her  lover,  ending 
with  the  scene  of  the  evening  before,  when  she  had  earnestly 
entreated  to  be  allowed  to  withdraw  from  her  engagement 
and  be  a  free  woman. 

Now  that  was  all  changed.  She  was  to  be  forgiven  for  her 
past  neglect,  and  thanked  for  a  reconciliation,  which,  if  she 
sought  at  all,  would  be  merely  to  gratify  her  ambition,  and 
not  for  the  sake  of  the  peace  and  happiness  she  had  it  in  her 
power  to  bestow.  And  he — would  he  take  her  back  to  his 
heart  on  such  terms?  Certainly  he  would;  for  had  he  not  re- 
fused to  give  her  up,  even  though  she  had  said  that  she  hated 
him?  In  her  heart  Kathie  felt  angry  with  the  doctor  for  being 
so  weak  where  his  love  was  concerned.  Why  could  he  not  have 
more  pride  than  to  allow  himself  to  be  treated  in  such  a  way? 

For  a  moment  she  felt  as  if  she  could  weep  for  his  folly;  but 
the  next  she  had  swallowed  the  indignant  tears  ere  they  rose 
to  her  eyes,  angry  with  herself  for  indulging  in  such  a  feeling 
at  all.  What  could  it  matter  to  her  what  he  did?  She  had  no 
right  or  business  to  think  about  it,  whichever  way  it  turned; 
and  if  the  wedding  really  did  take  place  at  Whitsuntide,  the 
sooner  she  set  about  embroidering  the  sofa-cushion  she  intend- 
ed as  a  bridal  present,  the  better. 

Her  thoughts  were  broken  in  upon  by  the  widow's  entrance 
with  a  branch  of  syringa  in  her  hand,  which  she  laid  on  the 
sheets  and  smilingly  told  Henriette  was  a  greeting  for  her 
from  the  bright  spring  morning  outside.  Then,  taking  up  her 
knitting,  and  going  round  to  where  Kathe  sat,  she  said,  gently: 

"  You  look  pale,  my  love.  Go  into  the  garden  for  awhile 
and  breathe  the  fresh  sweet  air — it  will  do  you  good — for  an 
hour.  Yesterday's  excitement  has  driven  the  color  from  your 
cheeks,  and  that  won't  do.  Young  faces  were  meant  to  be 
rosy  and  bright. " 

Nothing  loath,  the  young  girl  obeyed  the  kindly  meant 
order,  put  on  her  hat  and  went  out  into  the  garden.  The 
widow  was  right,  the  fresh  air  and  sunshine  did  her  good,  she 
breathed  more  freely,  and  the  tight  pressure  on  her  bosom  felt 
relieved  by  the  time  she  had  reached  the  quaint  old  bridge. 
But  she  did  not  cross  it.  She  stood  still  for  awhile,  gazing  at 
the  beauty  of  the  scene  around.  From  the  beautiful  blue 
heavens  overhead  her  eves  wandered  to  the  glistening  water., 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  14& 

at  her  feet,  the  fresh  green  grass  beyond,  the  budding  trees 
near  at  hand.  On  one  side  the  dark,  somber  forest,  on  the 
other  meadows  and  fields,  with  the  roofs  and  windows  of  a  dis- 
tant village  gleaming  in  the  merry  sunlight. 

Then  her  attention  was  attracted  by  the  twittering  of  birds 
around  the  wooden  loft  near  the  house,  and  she  saw  the  first 
wallows  of  the  year  flying  in  and  out  of  the  openings,  evident- 
/y  infent  on  building  their  nests.  Many  a  time,  as  a  child, 
had  she  lain  on  the  grass  by  the  river,  and  watched  the  com- 
ing and  going  of  these  spring  birds:  but  then  the  house  was 
deserted  and  shut  up,  and  a  human  being  rarely  disturbed  the 
quiet  and  loneliness  of  the  place  by  his  presence.  Now  the 
old  house  was  inhabited,  smoke  issued  from  its  chimneys,  win- 
dows and  doors  were  open,  life,  with  its  accompanying  pas- 
sions and  interests,  sorrows  and  joys,  had  taken  possession  of 
the  place,  and  all  seemed  changed;  even  the  girl  herself,  who 
was  standing  by  the  bridge,  was  no  longer  the  child  she  had 
been  seven  years  ago.  For  the  first  time  it  struck  her  that  the 
place  which  had  always  strangely  fascinated  her  ever  since  she 
could  remember,  had  for  a  few  short  weeks  belonged  to  her,  as 
"her  grandfather's  heiress.  The  sum  which  the  doctor  had 
given  for  it  belonged  to  her,  and  was  lying  side  by  side  with 
other  rolls  of  precious  papers  in  the  new  iron  safe  her  guardian 
had  told  her  contained  her  immense  fortune.  Why  this  thought 
brought  the  blood  to  her  cheeks  and  made  her  heart  beat  she 
could  not  tell,  but  so  it  was.  She  did  not  stop  to  examine  the 
hen-coop,  which  she  now  observed  for  the  first  time  in  a  corner 
near  the  loft,  but  wandered  on  through  the  orchard  till  she 
came  round  to  the  other  side  of  the  house  and  reached  the 
hawthorn  hedge  which  formed  the  boundary  of  the  little  prop- 
erty. Here  she  noticed  several  bits  of  shining  glass  lying 
about,  and  all  at  once  it  flashed  through  her  mind  that  they 
were  the  remains  of  •  the  crystal  glass  she  had  drank  from  the 
evening  before,  when  the  doctor  ordered  her  to  take  the  sooth- 
ing draught.  Burning  tears  rushed  to  her  eyes  as  the  re- 
membrance of  that  scene  came  back  to  her.  She  blamed  her- 
self bitterly  for  letting  her  fears  and  anxieties  run  away  with 
her  judgment,  and  the  longer  she  thought  over  it  the  more 
angry  she  felt  with  herself  for  imagining  for  one  second  that 
the  doctor  was  capable  of  the  weakness  she  in  her  foolishness 
had  imputed  to  him.  She  felt  sure  he  would  not  be  able  to 
vorget  it,  and  that,  for  a  time  at  least,  he  would  avoid  her,  and 
cease  to  smile  if  she  were  unavoidably  thrown  into  his  society. 

Heuriette  would  soon  be  able  to  return  to  the  villa,  and  tho 
intercourse  between  the  great  house  and  the  house  by  the  river 


150  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

would  be  ended.  For  after  all  that  had  happened  last  even- 
ing— however  much  the  doctor  might  insist  upon  his  rights— 
surely  if  Flora  did  not  advance  upon  the  hoped-for  reconcilia- 
tion by  a  visit  to  her  sick  sister,  he  would  have  to  acknowledge 
that  his  engagement  with  her  was  annuled.  Or  would  he  do 
as  Henriette  feared,  and  visit  the  villa  on  his  return  from  the 
palace,  to  inform  his  haughty  lady-love  of  the  golden  change 
>n  his  prospects? 

Such  thoughts  as  these  were  passing  through  her  mind  as 
she  wended  her  way  by  the  river,  when  she  heard  a  loud  noise 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  loft,  which  caused  her  to  retrace  her  steps 
to  see  what  it  was  all  about.  In  the  inclosure  around  the  loft 
the  watch-dog  had  broken  loose  and  was  wildly  careering  after 
the  screaming  hens.  As  soon  as  she  could,  Kathe  caught  at 
his  chain.  Laughing  heartily  at  the  scattered  hens,  and  the 
noise  and  confusion  among  them,  she  dragged  the  dog  back  to 
his  kennel.  But  he,  as  soon  as  he  discovered  that  he  was  to 
be  refastened  to  the  post,  tried  to  release  himself  from  her 
grasp  by  pulling  at  the  chain,  crouching  down  and  refusing 
to  move;  and  finally,  when  he  found  that  such  resistance  was 
of  no  use,  by  barking  and  showing  his  teeth  in  angry  defiance. 
He  was  a  good-sized  animal  of  savage  nature  and  sinewy  build, 
and  might  have  attacked  Kathe  in  his  anger  if  she  had  not 
had  the  presence  of  mind  to  seize  him  with  her  arm  round  his 
neck,  while  with  her  free  hand  she  slipped  the  chain  quickly 
over  the  strong  hook  on  the  post,  and  then  sprung  nimbly  back 
out  of  his  way  and  beyond  his  reach,  but  not  before  the  en- 
raged animal  had  snapped  at  her  dress  and  torn  a  portion  of  it 
to  ribbons. 

"Brute!  lie  still!"  she  commanded,  and  took  up  her  skirt 
to  see  the  extent  of  the  damage  done  by  his  white,  glistening 
teeth. 

Presently  she  heard  rapid  steps  crossing  the  rustic  bridge. 
She  knew  it  was  the  doctor  without  turning  her  head.  She 
hoped  he  did  not  observe  her,  and  that  he  would  go  straight 
on  into  the  house,  for  if  he  had  been  to  the  villa  on  his  return 
from  the  palace,  he  would  naturally  prefer  to  be  alone,  per- 
haps even  be  in  such  a  thoughtful  humor  that  he  would  not 
notice  her  at  all. 

He  did  not  enter  the  house,  but  turned  oft  to  the  left,  and 
came  direct  toward  her,  and  as  soon  as  he  reached  the  hen- 
yard  held  up  his  stick  threateningly  over  the  growling,  angry 
dog's  head,  and  obliged  him  to  retire  into  his  kennel  and  lie 
down.  After  which  he  fastened  the  chain  more  securely  to  the 
post  as  he  observed: 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  151 

"  I  must  Lave  the  brute  removed  from  this;  he  is  so  savage 
tnd  disobedient.  He  does  as  much  harm  by  frightening 
peaceable  people  as  he  does  good  by  keeping  off  trespassers. 
You  managed  to  make  him  obey  you  this  time,  but  I  think 
you  are  so  conscious  of  3  our  own  strength  that  you  are  a  little 
rash  where  other  girls  would  be  timid ;  don't  you  think  so  your- 
self?". 

He  spoke  earnestly,  almost  as  if  he  wished  to  reprove  her 
for  what  she  had  just  done. 

"  Oh,  I  have  my  moments  of  fear  and  timidity  just  like 
other  girls,"  she  replied,  frankly.  "  As  a  rule  I  am  terribly 
afraid  of  strange  dogs,  and  get  out  of  their  way  quickly 
enough;  but  at  a  critical  moment  inborn  weakness  must  not 
be  allowed  to  sway  one's  actions,  so  I  press  my  teeth  firmly 
together  and  go  to  work;  perhaps  it  is  that  which  makes  you 
think  me  rash. " 

The  doctor  was  not  looking  at  her  as  she  spoke,  but  watch- 
ing the  flight  of  a  swallow  over  his  head,  nevertheless  he 
smiled,  and  Kathe  fancied  it  was  a  smile  of  doubt  and  dis- 
belief. 

"You  doubt  what  I  say,  do  you?"  she  asked,  half  in  ear- 
nest, half  in  fun.  ' '  Do  you  know  that  it  is  not  so  very  long 
since  I  was  afraid  to  move  about  in  the  dark. "  Her  eyes 
gleamed  with  malicious  delight,  and  the  dimples  in  her  cheeks 
deepened  as  she  went  on:  "I  suppose  you  can  imagine  that 
in  such  an  old  place  as  the  Mill-house  hobgoblins  and  ghosts 
abounded  in  every  corner  and  cranny;  that  lordly  ancestors 
occasionally  stepped  down  from  their  frames  on  the  walls  and 
walked  about  distributing  corn,  and  that  the  ghosts  of  millers, 
who  once  upon  a  time  kept  back  grain  that  should  have  been 
sold,  were  wont  to  roam  through  the  scenes  of  their  former 
existence.  Of  course  I  heard  all  these  things,  and  I  believed 
in  them  as  firmly  as  if  I  had  been  brought  up  in  a  Thuringian 
hut.  But  as  neither  papa  nor  Fraulein  Lucas  shared  in  my 
belief,  and  if  they  had  found  out  I  was  afraid  would  have 
scolded  Susanne  for  repeating  the  legends  to  me,  there  was 
nothing  for  it  but  to  cure  myself  of  my  fear.  I  was  ashamed 
of  it  too;  so  whenever  anything  was  wanted  I  ground  my  teeth 
together,  and  without  a  second's  hesitation  went  upstairs  in 
the  pitch  dark  to  fetch  it." 

"  How  is  it  that  if  you  are  accustomed  to  school  your  own 
feelings  so  well,  and  keep  them  under  control,  you  were  so 
easily  persuaded  into  believing  a  man  capable  of  a  weak  and 
cowardly  act?" 


152  DC  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

A  burning  blush  spread  over  her  face  as  he  spoke,  but  she 
drew  back  her  head  and  said,  quietly,  though  in  a  somewhat 
haughty  tone: 

"  You  pardoned  my  thoughtlessness  yesterday." 

He  shook  his  head  deprecatingly. 

"  There  was  nothing  in  my  remark  to  make  you  doubt  that 
I  meant  what  I  said  last  night,  when  I  assured  you  you  had 
not  offended  me,"  he  replied,  involuntarily  lowering  his  rich, 
musical  voice,  as  if  he  did  not  intend  the  world  to  hear  of  this 
episode  between  himself  and  the  young  girl  at  his  side.  "  I 
merely  meant  I  should  like  very  much  to  know  the  foundation 
for  your  momentary  suspicion  of  me." 

Kathe  did  not  answer  at  once;  her  eyes  had  resumed  their 
usual  bright,  downy  expression,  a  smile  hovered  on  her  lips, 
and  the  small  childish  face  looked  almost  too  young  for  the 
full- rounded  womanly  figure,  as  in  a  demure  voice,  and  point- 
ing to  the  corner  window,  she  began: 

"  Once  upon  a  time  a  lovely  noble  lady  lived  in  that — " 

"  What,  that  romantic  history  that  all  the  old  women  relate 
over  their  spinning-wheels!  The  tragic  fate  of  the  lovely  lady 
caused  you  to  imagine — " 

"  No,  not  entirely.     Honriette  made  me  anxious,  and — " 

"  Henriette  is  ill;  constant  suffering  has  shaken  her  nerves 
and  made  her  morbid.  But  you  are  strong  and  healthy. " 

"  I  know  I  am,  but  there  are  things  which  youth  and  inex- 
perience naturally  prevent  one  from  being  able  to  judge  by 
common  rules — 

"  As  for  instance — love/'  he  interrupted  with  a  sudden  shy 
glance  at  the  girl. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  simply. 

He  stooped  his  tall  head,  and  began  mechanically  driving 
his  stick  against  a  square  slab  of  sandstone  which  stood  in  the 
center  of  the  grassy  plot  opposite  the  porch.  When  Kathe 
was  a  child,  she  had  been  wont  to  use  this  stone  as  a  table  on 
which  to  place  her  playthings  and  the  fruit  she  gathered  in  her 
rambles  over  the  old  garden — in  fact,  she  had  imagined  that  it 
had  been  put  there  expressly  for  her  amusement;  now,  how- 
ever, she  recognized  the  slab  as  the  remains  of  a  pedestal  on 
•which  a  female  statue  had  formerly  stood.  A  portion  of  a 
small  foot  still  remained  attached  to  the  sandstone.  Present- 
ly, as  the  doctor  was  silent,  she  said : 

"  That's  the  pedestal  on  which  either  a  nymph  or  one  of  the 
muses  stood  in  by-gone  times.  I  can  fancy  the  beautiful  figure 
she  must  have  had  from  this  little  foot.  Perhaps  she  had  her 
"lead  slightly  turned  toward  the  river,  half  facing  the  old 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  153 

bridge,  so  that  she  could  watch  the  knight  riding  across,  and 
see  also  the  pround  young  chatelaine  of  the  castle  in  her  bro- 
caded train — "  She  checked  herself  suddenly,  for  on  looking 
up  into  the  young  doctor's  face  she  noticed  that  he  was  not 
heeding  her  remarks,  but  evidently  absorbed  in  his  own 
thoughts,  which  from  the  expression  of  his  countenance  were 
sad  and  sorrowful. 

The  sudden  silence  of  the  young  girl  roused  him  out  of  his 
reverie. 

"Yes/'  he  said,  shaking  himself  together.  ' '  Those  wretched 
people  who  stayed  here  once  for  awhile  took  a  delight  in  de- 
stroying the  statues.  The  garden  was  full  of  sandstone  figures 
at  one  time;  there  are  several  pedestals  and  disfigured  statues 
lying  about  the  outhouses;  I'll  have  them  hunted  out  and 
renovated.  In  spite  of  its  wild  and  overgrown  state,  I  think 
that  the  original  plan  of  the  garden  can  still  be  traced,  and  I 
will  have  it  restored/' 

"  I  dare  say  it  will  be  very  pretty  and  tidy,  but — don't  you 
think  the  charm  of  this  overgrown  corner  will  be  lost  if  you 
have  it,  as  you  say,  restored?  The  peep  from  your  study  win- 
dow— " 

"  My  study  will  be  occupied  by  a  friend  of  my  aunt's  next 
winter,"  he  interrupted,  calmly.  "  In  October  I  settle  down 
in  Leipsic. " 

Kathe  stared  at  him  like  a  startled  fawn;  clasping  her 
hands,  she  repeated: 

"  In  Leipsic?  You  mean  to  be  separated  then?  What 
does  she  say?" 

"  Flora?  She  goes  with  me,  of  course,"  he  answered,  cold- 
ly, his  eyes  flashing  pain  and  anger  combined.  "  Do  you  im- 
agine I  would  leave  her  behind  me?  You  may  be  at  rest  on 
that  point  then. " 

Kathe  had  alluded  to  his  aunt  when  she  spoke,  in  reference 
to  his  journey  to  Leipsic,  and  not  to  Flora,  but  she  was  too 
shy  to  rectify  the  mistake,  when  he  had  that  stern,  forbidding 
look  on  his  face. 

Presently  she  asked,  timidly,  while  her  cheeks  flushed  with 
anxiety : 

"  You  have  just  come  from  the  villa?" 

"  No,  I  have  not  been  to  the  villa,"  he  replied,  in  a  tone 
which  appeared  to  Kathe  to  have  a  sarcastic  ring  in  it.  "  And 
as  yet  I  have  not  been  fortunate  enough  to  see  any  of  the 
family;  I  should  have  liked  to  have  a  word  with  Moriz,  but 
just  as  I  was  passing  the  house  his  friends  were  laughing  and 


154  IN    THE    COTJKSltLOR'S    HOUSE. 

talking  and  saying  good-bye,  sc  I  preferred  walking  on  unno- 
ticed." 

Then  he  had  not  had  an  interview  with  Flora,  and  yet  he 
was  thoughtful  and  absent. 

"It  is  very  strange,"  Kathe  said  to  herself,  beginning  to 
feel  very  uncomfortable  and  to  wish  herself  anywhere  away  out 
of  the  young  man's  presence.  Fortunately  for  her,  jupt  at 
this  moment  the  hens  began  carelessly  picking  up  the  grains 
near  the  enemy,  the  dog,  who  sprung  forward,  barking  furious- 
ly. Kathe  went  over  to  him  and  dextrously  managed  to  drive 
him  into  his  kennel,  when  she  shut  to  the  door  and  drew  the 
bolt,  and  thus  kept  him  quiet  for  the  time  being. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WHEN  Kathe  turned  round  from  shutting  up  the  watch-dog, 
she  noticed  the  young  doctor's  face  was  white  as  ashes,  and 
that  he  was  staring  in  the  direction  of  the  bridge.  His  stern 
attitude,  compressed  lips,  and  contracted  brows  reminded  her 
of  the  moment  when  she  had  asked  him  to  inform  her  of  the 
cause  of  her  grandfather's  death.  Involuntarily  following  the 
glance  of  his  eyes,  she  could  not  be  more  startled  if  she  had 
seen  the  figure  of  the  drowned  noble  lady  advancing  toward 
her,  as  she  was  to  recognize  Flora's  graceful  person  walking 
across  the  bridge  with  the  calm,  unembarrassed  manner  of  one 
who  has  nothing  to  fear,  and  knows  she  will  be  welcome,  come 
when  she  may. 

Kathe  could  scarcely  believe  her  eyesight,  as  she  watched 
her  beautiful  sister  quietly  gliding  past  the  spot  where  the 
night  before  she  had  passionately  declared  herself  a  free  woman, 
after  throwing  her  betrothal-ring  under  the  seething  wave. 
Not  twenty  hours  had  elapsed  since  she  had  openly  declared 
that  her  lover  had  deceived  her,  and  that  nothing  should  ever 
induce  her  to  cross  the  threshold  of  his  house  again.  Yet 
there  she  was,  smiling  and  happy  looking,  and  with  light  eager 
steps  advancing  over  the  pathway  direct  to  the  door  of  his 
house,  and  no  wave  curled  its  white  summit,  or  gust  of  wind 
blew  around  her  whispering  of  heartlessness,  cruelty,  and  fickle- 
ness to  the  man  she  was  going  there  to  meet. 

She  was  darkly  dressed,  with  a  rich  black  lace  veil  over  her 
beautiful  golden  hair,  round  her  throat,  and  hanging  down 
from  her  shoulders  like  the  wings  of  the  angel  of  night.  The 
counselor  followed  behind  with  Mme.  Urach  leaning  on  his 
arm,  to  whom  his  manner  was  so  respectful  and  so  gentle  that 
Kathe  woadereo.  if  slie  had  beeu  dreaming  in  the  morning 


IN   *THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  155 

when  he  had  spoken  slightingly  of  her,  or  was  awake  now,  and 
in  full  possession  of  her  senses. 

When  the  little  party  reached  his  side  of  the  bridge,  the  doc- 
tor slowly  advanced  to  meet  them,  and  to  Kathe's  intense  sur- 
prise greeted  them  as  usual.  Nothing  was  said,  nothing  was 
done  that  was  not  quite  usual  and  natural.  The  counselor 
threw  his  arms  round  the  young  doctor,  and  spoke  a  few  word* 
of  warm  congratulation.  Mme.  TTrach  was  bland  and  amia- 
ble, her  lips  parted  over  her  sharp  glistening  teeth  in  a  smile, 
as  she  held  out  her  hand;  and  Flora?  For  a  moment  her 
cheeks  assumed  a  brighter  color  than  usual,  and  her  eyes  wan- 
dered from  her  lower  to  the  gravel  pathway  at  her  feet;  then 
she  held  out  her  hand  also,  and  her  fingers  were  clasped  in  the 
same  cool,  friendly  manner  that  had  half  pained  and  half  as- 
tonished Kathe  the  first  time  she  saw  the  two  meet  in  the  win- 
ter garden,  and  when  Dr.  Bruck  turned  her  away  again,  his 
face  had  lost  its  sternness  and  the  color  had  returned  to  his 
cheeks. 

Before  they  reached  the  garden  Kathe  had  observed  Flora 
give  her  a  quick  searching  glance  from  head  to  foot,  and  then 
turn  her  head  and  make  some  laughing  remark  to  the  coun- 
selor over  her  shoulder;  but  now,  as  she  drew  nearer,  the 
young  girl  could  read  suppressed  anger  and  animosity  shining 
in  the  lovely  eyes,  as  she  said,  raising  her  voice: 

"  Well,  Kathe?  You  seem  to  have  made  yourself  quite  at 
home  here.  You  look  as  if  you  had  the  care  of  the  keys,  and 
had  them  hanging  at  your  side  this  moment. ' ' 

The  young  girl  made  no  reply,  she  merely  removed  her 
hand  from  the  gate  of  the  yard,  and  quietly  looked  Flora 
straight  in  the  face.  Was  she  not  ashamed  of  herself?  Was 
she  not  afraid  to  raise  her  voice  to  utter  bantering  speeches 
here,  in  the  very  spot  where  she  had  yesterday  declared  she 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  such  poor,  wretched  surround- 
ings? 

"  Are  you  vexed  with  Flora's  nonsense,  darling?"  asked  the 
counselor,  hurrying  to  Kathe's  side,  and  placing  her  hand  on 
his  arm.  "  It  does  not  matter  if  she  does  tease  you;  you  aro 
a  dear  little  housekeeper,  I  know.  You  looked  lovely,  my 
child,  standing  under  that  dove-cot.  Wait  a  little  and  you 
shall  have  a  fowl-yard  to  your  heart's  content,  the  best  to  be 
had." 

This  unusual  burst  of  affectionate  enthusiasm  from  the 
counselor  made  Mme.  Urach  hesitate  for  a  moment  on  her 
way  to  the  porch,  slightly  shake  her  head  and  whisper  to  hw 
granddaughter: 


156  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"Brainless  fellow!    He  is,  and  always  will  be,  the 
absurd  Commis  Voyageur?"  at  which  remark  Flora  raised  her 
pocket-handkerchief  to  her  mouth  to  hide  a  smile. 

Kathe  left  her  hand  lying  unconsciously  on  her  guardian's 
arm.  She  scarcely  heard  what  he  said,  neither  did  she  notice 
the  strange  start  and  manner  of  the  doctor,  as  he  drew  back  to 
let  her  and  the  counselor  pass  by;  all  she  saw,  all  she  was  con- 
scious of,  was  that  Flora  wore  a  black  silk  net  glove  on  hei 
left  hand,  the  fine  silk  lace-work  over  the  white  delicate  soft- 
ness of  her  hand  harmonizing  well  with  the  rest  of  her  toilet 
that  the  two  brilliants  which  had  glittered  on  her  third  finger 
a  few  hours  before  were  not  there  now,  and  in  their  stead  the 
"  simple  gold  ring  which  weighed  as  heavy  as  iron  "  shone 
distinctly  and  clearly  through  the  meshes  of  her  glove.  It  was 
impossible!  Kathe  glanced  at  the  flowing  river,  then  at 
Flora's  hand,  and  back  again  at  the  river  without  being  able 
to  understand  if  she  were  awake  or  dreaming. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  demanded  Mme.  Urach, 
on  entering  the  hall,  and  pointing  to  the  furniture  heaped  to- 
gether in  one  corner. 

"  Henriette  begged  so  earnestly  to  have  it  removed  that  I 
acceded  to  her  wish,"  replied  the  doctor,  coldly,  but  kindly. 

"  And  I  think  she  was  quite  right.  It  was  a  queer  idea — • 
don't  be  angry,  grandmamma! — to  fill  a  sick-room  with  so 
much  furniture.  The  poor  child  always  suffers  from  oppres- 
sion on  her  chest,  and  now  she  is  ill  I  don't  wonder  at  her  dis- 
like and  objection  to  all  those  stuffed  satin  chairs." 

Mme.  Urach  was  tempted  to  give  her  granddaughter  a 
sharp  answer,  but  she  forbore,  in  consideration  of  the  doctor's 
presence,  and  continued  her  way  to  the  invalid's  room. 

On  opening  the  door  she  started  back.  Henriette  had  heard 
and  recognized  voices  from  the  villa,  and  as  her  grandmother 
entered  she  was  leaning  over  the  bedside  with  such  an  anxious 
excited  gaze  in  her  large  brilliant  eyes,  and  watching  so 
eagerly  the  entrance  of  her  visitors,  that  the  old  lady  feared 
she  was  suffering  from  a  paroxysm  of  fever.  A  moment  later 
her  fears  were  laid  aside  by  the  calm  indifferent  manner  with 
which  the  invalid  greeted  her,  but  she  saw  also  that  the  ex- 
cited look  and  expression  increased  as  Flora  followed  her 
grandmother's  steps. 

The  widow  was  sitting  by  the  bedside  in  the  old  chintz- 
covered  chair.  She  rose  as  the  ladies  entered,  and  took  off 
her  spectacles,  but  before  she  had  time  to  utter  a  word  Flora 
hurried  over  to  her,  held  out  both  her  hands,  and  gently  ex- 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  157 

pressed  her  regret  for  not  having  wished  her  farewell  over- 
night. Then  turning  to  Henriette  she  said,  pleasantly: 

"  Well,  little  one,  you  are  going  on  famously,  I  hear?   I — '" 

"  But  you,  Flora?"  interrupted  Henriette,  with  scarcely 
concealed  impatience,  as  the  counselor  came  forward  and  took 
her  hand. 

Flora  bit  her  lip  to  hide  a  mocking  smile. 

"I?  pretty  well!  Yesterday's  excitement  upset  me  a  good 
deal,  but  by  pure  strength  of  will  I  have  not  allowed  myself  to 

five  way.  Of  course,  yesterday  I  must  have  looked  wretched, 
was  ill,  and  I  can't  help  fancying  I  was  half  mad  from  terror 
and  nervousness;  at  all  events,  I  seem  hardly  to  be  able  to  re- 
member what  I  did  or  said,  and  no  wonder.  Daniel  in  the 
lion's  den  was  scarcely  in  a  worse  position  than  I  among  such 
a  lot  of  savage  wretches. " 

;'  Well,  Kathe  defended  you  courageously/'  broke  in  the 
invalid,  angrily.  "  She  stood  before  you  like  a  shield,  and 
bore  the  brunt  of  the  blows — kind,  brave  girl!  Moriz,  just 
fancy,  they  tore  her  dress  from  her  waist,  and  pulled  down 
tier  hair — " 

"  Such  lovely  hair  as  it  is,  too!"  interrupted  the  widow, 
caressing  Kathe's  head  with  her  hand. 

"  That's  quite  true,  they  treated  her  shamefully,"  said 
Flora,  frowning,  "but  I  beg  to  add  that  that  was  not  entirely 
my  fault.  Kathe's  mania  for  always  wearing  rich  silk  ia 
mostly  to  blame  there.  The  wretches  grudge  us  wealth  and 
luxury,  of  course,  and  the  women  clutched  at  and  tore  her 
dress  to  ribbons,  and  obliged  her  to  hear — and  unfortunately 
us  also — that  her  grandmother  went  about  barefooted  as  a 
girl,  and  that  her  grandfather  was  only  a  poor  laborer  who 
had  amassed  his  immense  fortune  by  hard  dealings  and  so  on. 
I  assure  you  that  Kathe's  appearance  only  made  matters  worse 
for  us,  for  then  they  became  exasperated  against  the  rich 
heiress.  I  am  right;  am  I  not,  Kathe?" 

"Yes,  Flora,  you  are,"  replied  the  young  girl,  trying  to 
smile;  but  her  voice  shook  as  she  added:  "I  shall  have  a 
great  deal  to  do  to  atone  for  my  grandfather's  sins." 

Mme.  Urach's  face,  while  Flora  was  speaking,  was  very  ex- 
pressive of  satisfaction,  na}r,  almost  delight.  The  coarse  allu- 
sion to  the  humble  origin  of  Kathe's  grandparents  on  her 
mother's  side  sounded  like  music  in  the  old  lady's  ears;  she 
gave  a  searching  look  at  the  counselor.  The  newly  made 
noble  must  shrink  from  the  thought  of  taking  a  wife  whose 
parentage  was  so  well  known;  whose  very  fortune  was  a  mattej* 
ef  contention  among  the  scum  of  the  streets. 


158  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  What  nonsense,  Kathe,"  she  said,  shaking  her  head; 
"  that  sounds  childish  and  affected.  How  do  you  propose  be* 
ginning  your  work?" 

Flora  answered  laughingly  for  he:;: 

"  She  will  open  her  costly  money-bags  and  shake  their  con- 
tents among  the  people. " 

"As  you  did  yesterday  with  your  purse,  when  you  feared 
your  lovely  complexion  was  going  to  be  damaged,"  observed 
Henriette,  snappishly,  her  feverish  longing  to  see  her  lovely 
sister  humiliated  to  the  dust  before  the  doctor  forgotten  for  the 
moment. 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  be  likely  to  commit  such  a  folly  as 
that,"  remarked  Kathe,  earnestly  looking  at  Flora,  who  was 
biting  her  lip  with  vexation  at  Henriette 's  impertinent  speech; 
"  but  if  there  is  a  curse  on  my  money — " 

"  My  dear  girl,  you  need  not  alarm  yourself,"  broke  in  the 
counselor,  laughing  aloud;  "curse,  indeed!  Happiness  and 
good  fortune  go  hand  in  hand  with  your  money  or  rather 
inheritance — the  profits  of  an  arrangement  I  have  just  made 
for  you  are  simply  colossal. " 

The  usually  half-closed  lids  covering  Mme.  Urach's  eyes 
were  suddenly  raised  at  this  news,  and  the  eyes  flashed  as  they 
had  not  done  for  years  with  a  greedy  covetousness  that  for  a 
moment  made  her  look  almost  youthful. 

"  Colossal!"  she  repeated,  catching  her  breath;  "  then  I  will 
immediately  sell  out,  and  join  in  your  undertaking. " 

"  All  right,  dear  grandmother,  I  will  see  about  it  this  very 
evening;  the  wise  man  said  rightly,  that  '  where  doves  are 
there  doves  fly/  and  never  was  the  old  saying  so  true  as  it  is 
nowadays.  The  capitalist  is  like  a  rock,  on  which  the  very 
waves  cast  treasures — " 

"  Not  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  love  peace,  Moriz,"  said  Dr. 
Brack,  who  was  standing  by  the  bedside  holding  one  of  Henri- 
ette's  hands  in  his,  and  from  time  to  time  begging  her  not  to 
excite  herself,  or  join  in  the  conversation  going  on  around 
her.  He  looked  very  handsome,  but  his  features  had  the  same 
thoughtful,  sad  expression  which  Kathe  had  observed,  while 
they  were  standing  by  the  hen-loft. 

"  For  some  time  past  people  have  been  getting  uneasy,"  he 
went  on  after  a  moment's  pause,  "  and  are  beginning  to  hint 
that  this  easy  mode  of  gaining  money  is — " 

"  Swindling,  you  mean  to  say,"  interrupted  the  counselor, 
em  used.  "  My  dear  fellow,  with  all  due  respect  to  you  and 
j'our  knowledge,  I  think  /  understand  business  transactions 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  159 

better  than  you.  You  are  a  tiptop  doctor — have  made  your 
name  famous — " 

Henriette  raised  herself  from  her  pillor,  and,  breathless  with 
vehemence  and  triumph,  asked: 

"  Did  you  know  that,  Flora?" 

"  Of  course  I  know  it,  little  goose,  although  the  Herr  Doc- 
tor has  not  given  himself  the  trouble  to  inform  me  personally 
of  his  successful  cure  in  Leipsic,"  Flora  answered,  brightly, 
looking  kindly  down  on  the  drawn,  excited  face  so  eagerly 
watching  hers;  "  I  know,  too,  that  he  basks  in  the  sun  of 
royal  favor  to  an  extent  that  is  rare  among  ordinary  mortals; 
but  of  course  it  must  still  be  a  great  state  secret,  or — his  be- 
trothed wife  would  have  known  it  first." 

A  mischievous  sunny  smile  played  around  her  lips,  and 
showed  the  pearly  whiteness  of  her  teeth,  and  a  rosy  flush, 
which  deepened  the  color  on  her  cheeks,  made  her  look  more 
lovely  than  usual.  Henriette  lay  back  on  her  pillows,  bitterly 
disappointed;  even  she  had  failed  to  understand  the  chameleon- 
like  nature  of  her  beautiful  sister's  mind. 

"  May  we  not  know  something  more?  Are  the  preliminaries 
not  yet  begun?"  asked  Mine.  Urach,  with  a  gracious  smile,  as 
she  lightly  tapped  the  doctor  on  the  shoulder  with  her  fan,  in 
a  far  more  friendly  and  familiar  manner  than  she  had  ever 
used  toward  him  before. 

"  He  has  just  returned  from  the  palace,*'  said  the  widow, 
regarding  her  nephew  with  pride  and  affection  beaming  in  her 
eyes. 

"  Ah!  Then  may  I  ask  if  Doctor  von  Bar's  retirement  is  a 
positive  fact?"  asked  the  old  lady,  with  her  usual  bland  smile, 
but  in  reality  almost  breathless  from  anxiety  and  fear. 

"  I  don't  know,  and  I  did  not  inquire,"  replied  the  young 
doctor,  with  reserve.  "The  prince  wishes  me — while  I  re- 
main here — to  look  at  his  foot,  which  has  been  painf u)  so 
long-- 

"  While  you  remain  here!"  repeated  Flora,  quickly.  "  Do 
you  mean  to  leave?" 

' '  I  must  establish  myself  in  Leipsic  in  October, "  he  an- 
swered, coldly,  not  looking  at  her  as  he  spoke,  but  gazing 
absently  out  of  the  window. 

"  What!"  exclaimed  Mme.  Urach,  "  you  have  refused  rank 
and  position  at  our  court!"  and  she  clasped  her  hands  together 
in  surprise. 

"  The  rank  I  have  no  choice  about,"  he  said,  with  an 
ironical  smile;  "  it  appears  it  is  not  etiquette  in  royal  eyes  to 


160  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

allow  their  doctor  to  withdraw  after  a  cure  without  a  title;  so 
I  am  to  be  dubbed  Hofrath;*  the  prince  insists  on  it." 

As  he  finished  speaking  his  aunt  stretched  out  her  hand 
toward  him  with  tears  of  emotion  in  her  eyes,  and  the  doctor, 
who  was  usually  a  reserved  and  undemonstrative  man,  drew 
her  into  his  arms,  and  pressed  her  against  his  heart.  And  for 
one  short  moment  both  aunt  and  nephew  forgot  that  they 
were  not  alone. 

Flora  turned  abruptly  round,  and  swept  proudly  across  to 
the  window,  her  silk  skirt  rustling  noisily  over  the  polished 
uncarpeted  floor  as  she  went.  She  bit  her  lip  till  it  bled,  and 
clinched  her  soft  little  hand  as  though  she  longed  to  tear  away 
the  faithful  loving  woman  from  her  nephew's  breast. 

"  But  he  is  going  away,  auntie, "\  remarked  Henriette,  in 
her  shrill  weak  voice. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  I  know  he  is,  because  he  has  won  fame, 
and  must  work  on  for  a  fortune,"  replied  the  old  lady,  raising 
her  smiling  face  from  her  nephew's  shoulder.  "  I  will  will- 
ingly remain  behind  in  the  home  his  love  and  affection  have 
secured  for  me,  if  I  know  he  is  happy  and  content  while  per- 
forming his  duty  in  the  great  world.  He  has  been  like  a  dear 
son  to  me,  but  my  work  will  soon  end  now,  that  is,  my  care  of 
him;  another  will  take  my  place  at  his  side." 

She  spoke  with  earnestness  and  emotion,  while  her  soft  eyes 
fastened  with  a  tender  look  on  the  lovely  woman  standing  by 
the  window. 

"  She  he  has  chosen  will  know  better  how  to  minister  to  his 
happiness  than  I.  She  is  richly  endowed  with  the  gifts  that 
will  make  his  home  a  center  of  attraction  to  him  when  he  is 
weary  with  his  work,  and  I  hope  that  she  will  endeavor  to 
make  his  life  happy  under  any  circumstances." 

"  That  is  very  nice  of  you  to  say,  my  dear  Frau  Diakonus, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  Flora  will  make  a  first-rate  phys- 
ician's wife/'  replied  Mme.  Urach,  coldly.  She  did  not  quite 
like  the  widow's  indirect  reproof  of  yesterday's  ill-temper  on 
the  part  of  her  granddaughter,  and  felt  inclined  to  resent  a 
simple  curate's  widow  presuming  to  dictate  to  a  member  of 
her  family.  "  But  to  make  life  happy  in  the  present  day, 
comfortable  rooms  are  one  of  the  first  essentials,  and  the 
furnishing  of  such  rooms  is  causing  me  no  end  of  worry  just 
now.  Only  this  morning  I  have  had  a  rather  provoking  inter- 

*  Counselor  of  the  Court. 

f  In  Germany,  young  girls  often  cp,ll  the  older  ladies  of  their  «f- 
quaintance  "  aunt "  or  "  auntie." 


i2T  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  16J 

7few  with  the  head  of  the  firm  where  I  ordered  Flora's  draw- 
ing-room  furniture,  and  although  he  has  had  the  order  for 
gome  time,  he  tells  me  that  it  is  quite  impossible  the  things 
can  be  ready  by  Whitsuntide,  and  I  was  too  vexed  to  hear  the 
reason  why.  Then,  too,  Flora  has  been  obliged  to  scold  the 
woman  who  is  making  her  linen,  who  says  she  can't  be  ready 
till  at  least  the  end  of  June.  What  are  we  to  do?" 

"  We  must  wait/'  said  Dr.  Bruck,  in  his  abrupt,  decided 
manner,  as  he  took  up  his  hat  and  stick  preparatory  to  leaving 
the  room. 

Mme.  "Orach  was  slightly  taken  aback  by  this  curt  mode  of 
putting  an  end  to  her  difficulties;  she  seemed  perplexed,  and 
an  anxious  expression  crept  into  her  face  for  a  moment,  but 
she  bravely  rallied  her  scattered  wits,  and,  tapping  the  doctor 
on  the  shoulder,  said: 

"  That  is  very  good  of  you,  my  dear,  kind  friend,  and  re- 
lieves me  of  my  difficulties  at  once,  for  I  was  afraid  you  would 
meet  such  a  proposal  with  opposition — you  were  so  anxious  to 
have  the  wedding  at  WThitsuntide,  you  know. " 

"  Certainly  I  was;  but  then  my  removal  to  Leipsic  makes  a 
change  necessary." 

"  What  does  your  lady-love  say  to  that?"  asked  the  Fran 
Diakonus  in  an  uncertain  tone,  very  much  disturbed  in  her 
mind  by  the  cool  business  like  tranquillity  of  the  doctor  and 
Flora's  sudden  silence.  But  the  bride-elect  came  toward  her 
with  a  radiant  face. 

"  The  respite  is  not  unwelcome  to  me,  for  the  simple  reason 
that  my  future  life  and  position  are  all  so  suddenly  altered.  I 
shall  have  more  time  to  make  myself  worthy  of  my  position. 
It  is  certainly  a  delicious  change  for  the  better!  The  wife  of 
a  celebrated  and  renowned  physician  and  professor  of  the  uni- 
versity takes  her  place  in  the  world  on  a  very  different  footing 
to  the  wife  of  a  simple  doctor,  even  if  he  be  Hofrath  and  phys- 
ician to  the  prince. ' ' 

And  she  unconsciously  drew  herself  up  to  her  fullest  height, 
her  face  radiant  with  the  fulfillment  of  her  most  ambitious 
wishes  and  desires. 

The  counselor  rubbed  his  hands  in  glee  and  smiled  ap- 
provingly at  his  sister-in-law's  well-timed  speech;  but  Mme. 
Urach  frowned,  and  had  great  difficulty  in  keeping  her  anger 
from  finding  vent  in  words.  She  did  not  approve  of  her 
granddaughter's  mode  of  behavior,  neither  did  it  please  hei 
that  she  should  boast  thus  openly  of  occupying  a  position 
higher  even  than  her  grandmother's  in  her  married  days,  when 
her  husband  held  an  honorable  post  at  the  court-  But  the  old 

a 


162  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

lady  contented  herself  by  remarking,  with  a  warning  shake  o! 
her  head: 

"  You  are  soaring  high,  my  dear."" 

'  "  Only  to  my  brilliant  future  life,  grandmamma/'  answered 
Flora,  with  a  mischievous  toss  of  her  head,  as  she  turned  her 
back  suddenly  on  the  old  lady  with  a  quick  decisive  movement, 
xnore  expressive  than  words  of  her  determination  to  put  the 
past  and  all  things  pertaining  to  it  out  of  her  thought*. 
"  And  now,  dear  aunt,  I  am  going  to  give  myself  up  to  you 
to  do  with  me  as  you  will,"  she  added,  going  over  to  the 
widow  who  was  watching  her  narrowly.  "  I  submit  uncon- 
ditionally to  be  taught  everything,  provided  you  will  take  the 
trouble  to  show  me  how  to  go  to  work  and  make  Leo  happy. 
I  will  learn  to  sew,  cook — "  she  drew  off  her  gloves  as  if  she 
meant  to  begin  at  once.  "  Ah!  my  ring!"  she  exclaimed, 
suddenly  holding  up  her  hand. 

It  had  slipped  from  her  finger  in  drawing  off  her  glove,  she 
said,  but  no  one  had  heard  it  fall.  They  all  sought  for  it  on 
the  ground,  under  the  carpet — everywhere — but  it  was  not  to 
be  found,  it  seemed  to  have  vanished  into  air. 

"  It  must  have  got  among  your  pillows,  Henriette,"  Flora 
said,  with  a  pale  face.  "  Let  me  lift  you  a  moment,  and  let 
me  see  if — " 

"  No,  I  won't  allow  that,"  cried  the  widow.  "  She  is  not 
to  be  moved  on  any  account:  it  is  not  necessary  to  disturb  her 
for—" 

"  Not  necessary!"  repeated  Flora,  pettishly.  "  It  is  my 
betrothal -ring,  auntie." 

Kathe  shuddered  as  she  heard  this.  Could  Flora  be  such  a 
wonderfully  lucky  girl  as  to  have  obtained  back  her  ring  from 
under  the  waves,  or  was  she  willfully  and  wickedly  saying 
what  was  false? 

"  That  is  a  bad  omen;  however,  the  ring  can't  possibly  be 
lost,"  said  the  widow  in  reply.  "  We  shall  be  sure  to  find  it 
this  evening  when  Henriette's  bed  is  arranged  for  the  night, 
and  then  I  will  send  it  over  to  you  by  a  servant. " 

"  I  will  reward  her  royally.  I  will  give  her  a  handful  of 
gold  if  she  does  bring  it,"  said  Flora,  evidently  very  much  put 
out  at  her  temporary  loss,  and  scarcely  able  to  master  her  im- 
patience. 

Meanwhile  Mme.  Urach  and  the  counselor  drew  chairs  to 
the  bedside  and  sat  down  by  Henriette,  who  had  not  spoken 
a  word  while  the  ring  was  being  sought  for.  Once  she  had 
raised  her  head  and  opened  her  lips  to  speak,  but  had  sunk 
back  on  her  pillows;  and  once,  when  Mine.  Urach  was  com* 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  Housa.  163 

plaining  of  the  tardiness  of  the  trades-people  in  forwarding  the 
furniture  she  had  muttered  to  herself,  half  to  the  doctor: 

"  Because  they  were  partly  countermanded;  no  tradesman 
Jtould  send  them  home  on  such  terms." 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

THE  widow  left  the  room  to  order  coffee,  and  Kathe  fol- 
lowed her.  The  poor  girl's  brain  was  in  a  whirl  from  trying 
to  fathom  and  understand  the  meaning  of  the  comedy  Flora 
had  been  playing  during  the  last  half  hour.  She  begged 
"  auntie  "  to  let  her  arrange  the  coffee  in  such  a  coaxing  way 
that  the  elderly  lady  willingly  acceded  to  her  request,  and 
handed  her  the  bunch  of  keys  generally  hanging  at  her  side. 

"  Dear,  dear  Kathe!  my  brave,  noble  girl!"  she  said,  softly, 
as  she  put  her  arm  round  the  maiden's  waist  and  drew  her 
close  to  her  bosom;  "  I  love  to  look  into  your  sweet  innocent 
face,  it  gives  me  a  feeling  of  peace  and  rest,  and  makes  me 
think  of  Luther  and  his  true,  brave,  beloved  Katherine,  who 
walked  by  his  side  through  life,  always  helping  and  encourag- 
ing him  by  her  strong  courage  and  undaunted  faith  in  him. 
You  are  a  dear  child,  Kathe!"  and  she  tenderly  kissed  the 
blushing  girl,  sighed  deeply  as  if  moved  by  some  inward  mis- 
giving, and  quietly  returned  to  the  invalid's  room. 

Kathe  went  to  the  pantry  and  took  out  the  coffee  and  the 
freshly  baked  sponge-cake  which  she  knew  the  widow  would 
like  to  have  placed  before  her  guests,  and  while  the  maid  was 
putting  fresh  logs  of  wood  in  the  stove  to  boil  the  kettle,  she 
filled  the  pretty  blue  glass  basin  with  sugar  and  polished  the 
crystal  cake-dish.  Sho  had  just  begun  to  cut  the  round  cake 
in  slices  when  she  heard  some  one  coming  out  of  Henriette's 
room.  The  kitchen  door  was  partly  open,  and  through  this 
opening  she  saw  Flora  cross  the  hall. 

The  bride-elect  was  evidently  uncertain  which  way  to  turn; 
she  was  not  at  home  in  the  "  wretched  surroundings  "  of  the 
doctor's  house,  but  her  eyes  must  have  had  some  magnetic 
influence,  for  as  she  glanced  hesitatingly  at  the  opposite  door 
it  suddenly  opened  and  the  doctor  himself  appeared  on  the 
threshold. 

Flora  flew  over  to  him  with  outstretched  arms.  Her  long 
black  dress  trailed  over  the  red  stone  floor,  the  dark  drooping 
veil  hanging  behind  her  like  a  cloud.  With  her  small  white 
hands  stretching  forth  from  the  falling  black  lace,  and  her 
pale  face  and  flawing  eyes  and  sable  robes,  she  looked  like  the 
beautiful  woy.xst  whom  legendary  lore  declares  to  rise  at  night 


164  IN  THS  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

from  her  gmve  to  murder  the  young  of  every  living  thing  she 
Tweets. 

"  Leo!"  it  was  a  low  musical  voice  which  half  whispered  the 
name. 

Kathe  could  hardly  believe  her  ears,  her  breath  came  and 
went  in  wondering  surprise.  Was  it  really  Flora's  voice?  It 
was  so  soft  and  tender,  so  entreating  in  its  tone  that  surely  the 
^ips  that  Kathe  had  heard  angrily  asserting  her  desire  to  be 
free  only  the  evening  before,  could  not  have  uttered  that 
sweet,  loving  sound  now?  The  young  girl  turned  her  eyes 
away,  the  knife  shook  in  her  trembling  fingers,  and  she  longed 
to  shut  the  door,  so  as  neither  to  see  nor  to  be  seen,  but  she 
had  not  the  courage  or  strength  to  move  from  where  she 
stood.  There  was  no  answer  to  the  soft  appeal. 

"  Leo,  look  at  me!"  said  Flora,  louder,  and  in  a  more  en- 
treating tone.  "  Look  at  me,  and  don't  torture  me  in  this 
way  when  your  own  heart  even  rebels  against  it.  I  know  you 
are  trying  hard  to  appear  stern  and  punish  me,  but  thank 
God!  it  is  hard  for  you  to  do  it!  Am  I  to  be  punished  because 
yesterday  I  was  half  mad  with  excitement,  and  did  not  know 
what  I  was  saying  or  doing?  Leo,  my  life,  which  belongs  to 
you,  was  in  danger;  my  blood  boils  still  as  I  think  of  it — and — 
you  are  exciting  me  still  more,  Leo!" 

Kathe  was  spell-bound,  and  for  a  moment  could  attend  to 
nothing  else  but  Flora's  words;  the  next  she  heard  the  maid  at 
her  side  titter  with  surprise  at  such  a  beautiful  lady  apologiz- 
ing to  her  young  master.  In  an  instant  Kathe  recovered  her 
self-possession,  ordered  the  servant  to  set  the  coffee-cups,  and 
quickly  placing  the  cake  on  the  crystal  dish  she  took  it  up  and 
walked  courageously  to  the  hall  with  it  in  her  hand.  In  spite 
of  herself  she  saw  as  she  left  the  kitchen  the  doctor's  stern, 
pale  face  turned  away  from  his  bride,  his  arms  hanging  loosely 
by  his  side,  and  his  lips  compressed  as  if  with  pain,  while 
Flora  hung  round  his  neck  in  a  close  clinging  attitude, 

The  sharp  closing  of  the  kitchen  door  made  the  young  man 
look  that  way,  and  at  the  same  instant  his  eyes  encountered 
Kathe's. 

If  he  had  been  caught  in  some  guilty  act  he  could  not  have 
started  more  violently,  or  the  blood  have  rushed  to  his  brow 
with  greater  force  than  it  did  now,  as  he  endeavored  to  dis- 
engage himself  from  the  embrace  of  his  betrothed.  But  Flora 
would  not  loosen  her  hands,  she  merely  glanced  at  her  young 
hulf -sister,  and  burying  her  head  deeper  on  his  shoulder  mut- 
tered in  his  ear: 

"  Nonsense,  Leo,  it  la  only  Kathe." 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  165 

Krihe  heard  and  hurried  across  the  hall  as  fast  as  her  feet 
would  carry  her  into  the  sick-room.  Her  heart  beat  aloud  in 
her  vexation  and  shame  at  having  witnessed  the  sensational 
Romeo  and  Juliet  scene  outside.  With  trembling  hands  she 
placed  the  cake-dish  on  the  table,  and  at  Henriette's  express 
wish  put  a  morsel  of  the  sweet  cake  in  the  canary's  cage. 

On  the  clean  white  sand  at  the  foot  of  the  cage  lay  the 
much-sought-for  gold  ring,  which  must  have  slipped  through 
the  bars  without  hitting  the  wires  and  noiselessly  fallen  OL  the 
soft  sand  inside.  Kathe  lifted  it  up  and  quietly  put  it  in  her 
pocket.  The  coffee  had  still  to  be  made,  but  Kathe  shrunk 
from  going  back  through  the  hall  to  the  kitchen.  She  fidgeted 
about  the  canary,  now  giving  it  a  bit  of  sugar,  then  a  bit  more 
cake,  listening  the  while  to  Mme.  Urach's  remarks  about  the 
trousseau,  and  vaguely  wondering  why  she  should  be  so 
anxious  to  impress  the  widow  with  the  importance  of  every- 
thing being  in  the  right  style. 

As  the  minutes  rolled  on  the  young  girl  grew  more  and 
more  nervous  and  unwilling  to  surprise  the  lovers  a  second 
time  in  their  tete-a-tete  interview.  How  should  she  manage? 
The  coffee  must  be  made,  and  she  must  make  up  her  mind  to 
face  the  hall.  How  great  was  her  relief  when  the  door  opened 
and  the  doctor  walked  in.  Quick  as  lightning  she  slipped 
past  him  without  raising  her  eyes,  and  went  out  into  the  hall. 
It  was  empty.  Flora  was  not  there.  The  maid  was  grinding 
the  coffee  in  the  kitchen.  •  Perhaps  it  was  the  disagreeable 
noise  of  the  mill  which  had  shortened  the  reconciliation  scene. 

The  coffee  was  soon  made  and  the  tray  laid;  and  while  the 
maid  put  on  a  clean  apron  to  carry  it  into  the  sick-room,  Kathe 
went  over  to  the  window,  took  the  ring  from  her  pocket  and 
examined  it.  "  E.  M.,  1843,"  was  engraved  on  the  inner 
side.  Ernst  Mangold.  It  was  not  the  ring  come  back  in 
some  mysterious  way  from  under  the  waves  of  the  river,  but 
the  marriage-ring  of  Flora's  mother. 

Kathe  grew  cold  all  over  as  she  thought  of  the  false,  mean 
part  Flora  was  playing.  Her  own  frank,  innocent  nature 
could  hardly  understand  a  disposition  that  was  ready  for  every 
emergancy,  and  that,  with  a  cold  indifference  as  to  conse- 
quences, could  gather  up  the  threads  of  intrigue  and  make 
use  of  them  to  weave  a  fresh  net  for  future  use.  She  shud- 
dered and  drew  back,  and  glanced  with  a  pained  feeling  at  her 
heart  at  the  little  simple  symbol  of  faithful  love  that  Flora's 
mother  had  worn  to  the  day  of  her  death,  and  that  now, 
through  her  daughter's  false-heartedness  and  deception,  had 
become  sullied  and  dishonored.  It  burned  her  fingers  as  cho 


166  IN    THE    COUNSELORS    HOUSE. 

held  it,  and  she  wished  she  might  have  thrown  it  into  tho 
shining  river  out  of  every  one's  sight.  But  it  was  not  hers,  it 
belonged  to  Flora,  and  to  Flora  she  must  return  it,  and  that 
without  delay. 

Slowly  quitting  the  kitchen,  Kathe  went  out  into  the  porch. 
Flora  was  standing  by  the  palings,  gazing  into  the  distance,  with 
her  back  to  the  house,  her  arms  folded  on  her  bosom,  and  her 
fair  golden  hair  shining  brilliantly  in  the  sun.  The  watch-dof 
had  caught  sight  of  her  figure,  and  began  barking  so  furiouslj 
that  his  noise  prevented  Kathe's  approach  being  heard.  When 
she  reached  Flora's  side  the  latter  started  visibly  and  con- 
tracted her  eyebrows  into  a  deeper  frown,  while  her  angry  face 
flushed  scarlet  and  her  eyes  flashed  scornfully. 

"  You  are  there  again,  are  you?  prying  into  and  meddling 
with  what  does  not  concern  you!"  she  said,  in  a  tone  that  was 
neither  refined  nor  lady-like. 

Kathe's  cheeks  flushed  with  indignation  at  this  unlooked-for 
attack,  and  she  felt  inclined  to  resent  her  half-sister's  bitter 
insinuations  by  a  few  hot  words,  but  she  checked  the  inclina- 
tion, and  said,  with  reserve  and  pride: 

"  I  have  found  the  ring." 

"Give  it  me!"  Her  features  softened,  she  took  the  ring 
from  Kathe's  outstretched  hand  and  slipped  it  on  her  finger. 
"  I  am  very  glad  it  is  found.  It  was  rather  an  unfortunate 
sign." 

'  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  look  upon  it  as  a  bad 
omen?"  remarked  Kathe. 

"  Why  not?  Do  you  imagine  that  people  with  minds  are 
naturally  free  from  superstition?  Napoleon  I.  was  as  super- 
stitious as  an  old  beldame,  let  me  tell  you;  and  I — I  don't 
deny,  at  least,  that  I  am,  too." 

She  looked  into  Kathe's  eyes  with  an  entreating,  but  firm, 
commanding  gaze,  as  if  she  would  compel  her  young  half- 
sister  to  forget  all  that  had  passed  not  very  far  from  the  spot 
where  they  were  both  now  standing.  But  Kathe's  fearless 
honesty  and  straightforwardness  were  not  to  be  daunted. 
With  hot  cheeks  and  kindling  eyes  she  said  quietly,  as  she 
pointed  in  the  direction  of  the  bridge : 

"  You  forget,  Flora,  that  you  were  not  alone  when  you 
stood  there  last  night. " 

Flora  laughed  bitterly. 

"  That's  what  comes  of  having  a  young  sister  constantly 
running  against  one's  skirts.  That  is  just  like  a  school-girl — 
to  judge  and  condemn  one's  actions  when  one  hardly  knowp 
what  one  is  doing,  and  then  remind  one  of  them  at  unpleasant 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  167 

times.  Have  I  not  already  declared  in  there/'  and  she  pointed 
to  the  windows  of  the  room  where  Henriette  was  lying,  "  that 
yesterday 's  scene  in  the  forest  upset  my  nerves  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  I  was  half  mad,  and  consequently  not  responsible  for 
what  I  said  and  did  afterward?  My  dear  Kathe,  you,  in  your 
superjor  wisdom,  seem  inclined  to  intimate  that,  as — well — as 
my  betrothal-ring  is  under  the  river,  that  it  is  impossible  for 
it  to  bring  me  bad  luck.  That's  it,  is  it  not,  little  one?"  She 
laughed  sharply  again.  "  What  if,  in  all  my  passion  and  ex« 
citement,  or  any  other  feeling  a  dispassionate  critic  might  be 
disposed  to  call  the  state  I  was  in,  I  had  not  thrown  my  little 
jewel  from  me?  Did  you  hear  it  fall,  my  dear?  Impossible! 
for  here  it  is  " — she  drew  the  hoop  on  her  finger — "  although 
it  seemed  just  now  as  if  it  were  inclined  to  part  company  with 
me  forever." 

"  Because  it  is  too  large.  Your  fingers  are  more  slender 
than  your  mother's  were,"  remarked  Kathe,  bitterly,  her 
whole  body  trembling  with  anger.  Flora  sprung  forward  as 
if.  she  meant  to  strike  hen 

"  You  viper!"  she  hissed  between  her  teeth.  "  I  knew  the 
very  first  moment  I  saw  your  round,  dairy-maid  face  that  you 
would  cast  a  shadow  across  my  path  in  life.  How  can  you 
stoop  to  dodge  me  and  my  actions  as  if  you  were  a  spy?  You 
spying  me?  Is  that  the  honorable  way  your  *  excellent '  Lucas 
has  brought  you  up?" 

"  Leave  Lucas  out  of  the  question!"  said  Kathe,  quietly, 
her  half-sister's  sudden  outburst  of  passion  and  anger  cool- 
ing her  own.  "  Whatever  I  may  think  or  do,  my  educa- 
tion has  nothing  to  do  with  it.  I  know  that  I  inherit  my 
father's  love  of  honor,  for  I  hate  and  despise  falseness  of  every 
kind,  and  I  would  be  dumb  for  the  rest  of  my  life  sooner  than 
tell  a  lie.  If  you  have  accustomed  those  around  you  in  daily 
private  life  to  wink  at  and  tolerate  your  falseness,  don't  expect 
it  from  me;  young  and  unaccustomed  to  the  world  as  I  may 
be,  you  won't  change  me  in  that  respect.  I  won't  allow 
myself  to  be  hoodwinked.  I  have  good  eyes  and  a  good 
memory — " 

"  Ah,  yes,  those  are  nature's  gifts,  which  in  a  more  refined 
disposition  would  be  modified,  of  course,  as  regards  their  ob- 
servations," interrupted  Flora,  who  had  several  times  smiled 
scornfully  while  her  sister  was  speaking,  and  made  a  move  as 
if  to  go  away  and  leave  her  and  her  moralizing  together.  She 
had  clinched  her  hands,  bitten  her  lips,  and  snipped  on*  the 
buds  from  a  neighboring  bush,  but  she  had  not  moved  away, 
and  now  spoke  without  a  trace  of  the  passion  she  had  exhibited 


168  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

not  five  minutes  previously.  "  I  don't  know  whether  yofi 
understand  me,  child;  I  hardly  think  so,"  she  added,  shrug- 
ging her  shoulders;  "  you  have  your  own  rule  for  judging  other 
people,  and  you  unfortunately  adhere  to  it  as  firmly  as  the 
shopman  does  to  his  yard  measure,  no  matter  if  he  is  selling 
fine  stuff  or  coarse,  red,  green,  or  yellow.  But  I  will  try  and 
make  myself  plain  to  you,  and  make  you  understand  me  once 
for  all." 

Stepping  nearer  to  the  young  girl,  so  near  that  Kathe  felt 
the  warmth  of  her  breath  on  her  face,  she  went  on,  in  a  low 
suppressed  voice,  as  she  glanced  for  a  second  at  the  windows: 

Well,  you  are  right,  my  betrothal-ring  lies  under  the  river 
where  I  threw  it  in  a  fit  of  uncontrollable  disgust  at  the 
thought  of  a  life  of  poverty  by  Brack's  side.  A  girl  of  your 
ideas  will  not  be  able  to  understand  that,  but  no  matter.  You 
think  only  of  a  husband  who  has  a  pleasant  appearance,  is 
well  grown,  and  has  a  handsome  mustache,  and  when  once  the 
irrevocable  '  yes  '  is  promised,  you  would  go  with  him  through 
fire  and  water — all  of  which  is  very  good  in  its  way.  Such  a 
girl  would  become  a  self-sacrificing  mother,  and  bring  up  her 
sons  in  a  worthy  manner,  I  have  no  doubt.  A  girl  of  this 
kind,  though,  would  love  to  hide  under  the  shelter  of  her  home 
and  timidly  shut  her  eyes  if  an  eagle  soared  in  the  air  above 
her.  But  in  that  sort  of  eagle  I  should  glory.  I  would  soar 
in  the  air  with  him,  for  that  is  the  air  I  like  to  breathe,  and 
never  leave  his  side;  on  the  contrary,  I  would  urge  his  mount- 
ing higher,  trying  his  strong  wings  in  still  higher — " 

"  And  if  he  damaged  his  wings  and  fell  you  would  cry  out 
he  was  only  a  crow,  and  leave  him  to  his  fate,  like  a  coward," 
broke  in  Kathe.  But  the  moment  the  words  were  out  of  her 
mouth  she  recognized  the  force  of  their  taunt,  revealing  as 
they  did  the  outspoken  truth  of  her  half-sister's  shameless  con- 
duct, by  the  paleness  which  overspread  Flora's  face  and  the 
lassitude  of  her  manner;  but  she  went  on  courageously:  '*  II 
you  had  only  left  him  quietly  and  silently  it  would  have  been 
better,  instead  of  bitterly  crying  out  that  you  hated  him!  You 
declared  he  had  deceived  you,  and  been  false  to  his  position; 
you  said  this  only  last  night,  on  the  very  spot  where  you  are 
now  standing,  and  yet  you  returned  to  the  house — 

"  As  Doctor  Bruck's  adored  bride-elect,  who  had  first  to 
bear  a  terrible  reverse  in  order  to  enable  her  to  appreciate  to 
the  full  the  intensity  of  her  future  happiness,"  Flora  finished, 
with  a  triumphant  smile,  as  her  sister  hesitated  for  a  moment. 
"  You  can  be  charmingly  impertinent,  Kathe!  I  was  quite 
Struck  just  now  with  the  reody  way  you  turned  my  own  para- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOTJS&  169 

ble  against  me.  Your  plebeian  inclinations  atid  propensities 
are  all  very  well  in  their  way,  but  they  go  too  far  when  they 
lead  you  into  misunderstanding  a  nature  like  mine,  and  a  soul 
full  of  aspirations  and  fire.  How  can  you  understand  a  psycho- 
logical problem?  Had  I  spoken  yesterday  of  unfaithful  friend- 
ship,-you  might,  with  some  show  of  reason,  pretend  to  be 
shocked  at  the  sudden  change  in  my  manner,  and  say  I  was 
merely  playing  a  part,  simply  because  friendship  never  breaks 
A)rth  into  love  passion;  but  hatred  and  love  lie  side  by  side  in 
the  human  breast — they  set  fire  to  each  other,  and  very  often 
a  burning,  outspoken  hatred  is  the  result  of  an  excess  of  love. 
You,  with  your  blunted  feelings,  are  not  capable  of  under- 
standing the  nicety  of  the  distinction.  You  would  cook  your 
husband  a  favorite  dish  to  reconcile  him;  but  a  nature  like 
mine  would  burst  forth  into  bitter  accusations,  of  burning 
self -accusation,  and  suffer  death  for  his  sake." 

Then,  laying  her  hand  under  her  bosom,  as  if  she  were 
stabbing  herself  with  a  stiletto,  she  added: 
.  "  And  now  I  will  say  that  never  have  I  loved  Leo  Bruck  so 
passionately  or  so  intensely  as  since  I  have  known  that  he  has 
suffered  like  a  martyr,  and  held  his  tongue  like  the  hero  that 
he  is — since  I  have  had  to  confess,  too,  that  I  pained  and 
wounded  him  deeply;  but  never,  never  " — she  suddenly  seized 
Kathe's  hand,  and  the  slender  white  fingers  were  as  cold  as 
the  current  of  air  from  over  the  water — "  no,  never  before," 
she  hissed  into  Kathe's  ear,  "  never  till  now  did  I  feel  sucb. 
hot,  glowing  jealousy!  Mind  that,  child!  He  is  my  property; 
and  even  if  I  have  nothing  worse  to  fear  than  you — he  does 
not  care  for  you,  that  I  noticed  long  ago;  besides,  he  has  only 
eyes  and  ears  for  me — still,  I  am  not  accustomed  to  endure 
any  one  near  me  who  so  persistently  lays  herself  out  to  please 
as  you  do.  Your  housewifely  doings  and  continual  coming 
and  going  in  this  house  do  not  please  me.  You  will  for  the 
future  discontinue  everything  of  the  kind.  Do  you  under- 
stand?" 

And  with  this  plain  and  undisguised  behest  she  gathered  up 
her  sweeping  skirts  and  walked  slowly  back  to  the  house,  evi- 
dently to  avoid  any  further  discussion.  But  it  was  an  unneces- 
sary precaution  on  her  part. 

Kathe's  face  and  lips  had  turned  white  as  death,  but  she 
had  no  desire  nor  any  intention  of  replying  in  words  to  sucb 
haughty,  double-tongued  observations  as  had  just  fallen  from 
her  half-sister's  lips.  Her  young  honor-loving  nature  recoiled 
from  so  much  duplicity;  and  she  was  silent. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

IT  was  the  month  of  May.  The  trees  were  sprouting  forth 
young  leaves,  the  splendid  hyacinth  beds,  which  had  been  the 
pride  of  the  gardener  and  delight  of  all  visitors  at  the  villa, 
were  faded  and  over  for  the  season;  the  tiny  buds  on  the 
syringa  bushes  were  deepening  in  color,  green  little  petals 
were  beginning  to  appear  on  the  rose-trees,  and  the  shadows 
of  the  pretty  zigzag  walk  and  linden  avenue  were  growing 
broader  and  broader  each  day.  The  river  had  become  brighter 
and  clearer,  and  flowed  along  between  its  green  banks  with  a 
glimmer  and  sparkle  on  its  surface,  which  the  beautiful  May 
sun  intensified;  while  behind  the  old  house  a  sweet  perfume  of 
May  flowers  filled  the  air,  and  the  thick,  strong  vine  which 
clung  to  the  walls  at  the  side  began  to  look  gay  with  its  green 
leaves  and  shoots. 

Henriette  had  long  since  been  removed  to  the  villa,  and  was 
apparently  stronger  and  better  now  than  she  had  been  for 
many  months  past.  "  Auntie  Diakonus,"  as  the  girls  called 
the  doctor's  aunt,  ascribed  this  improvement  entirely  to  the 
effect  of  Kathe's  good  nursing. 

The  two  sisters  lived  a  quiet,  retired  existence,  which  they 
both  seemed  to  intensely  enjoy,  especially  since  Kathe's  piano 
had  stood  in  her  own  room;  and  this  peaceful  daily  life  away 
from  the  excitement  of  society,  which  Henriette  had  formerly 
shrunk  from  with  a  vehemence  that  was  painful  in  her  delicate 
state  of  health,  together  with  the  refining  and  kindly  influence 
of  constant  visits  from  the  widow,  seemed  to  have  produced  a 
wonderful  change  in  the  mind  of  the  invalid  as  well  as  in  her 
body. 

While  the  two  girls  were  thus  living  apart  by  themselves  the 
drawing-rooms  in  the  villa  were  never  so  thronged  with  visitors 
as  since  their  host  had  become  ennobled.  Festivities  and  gay- 
eties  of  every  kind  were  daily  organized,  in  which  the  inventive 
powers  of  Mme.  Urach  and  the  wealth  of  the  counselor  ap- 
peared inexhaustible.  Certainly  the  counselor  was  a  fortunate 
man.  Everything  he  touched  seemed  to  turn  into  gold.  All 
his  undertakings  in  the  commercial  world  were  not  only  suc- 
cessful, but  simply  fabulous  in  their  returns,  and  his  reported 
income  amounted  to  millions  of  thalers;  and,  with  all  his  suc- 
cess, he  was  a  great  favorite.  He  seemed  to  understand  the 
art  of  winning  friends  and  keeping  them.  The  haughtiness 
and  prnle  of  fortune  and  nobility  were  never  discernible  either 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  171 

in  his  manner  or  speech.  Always  pleasant,  affable,  kindly, 
and  simple,  he  made  every  one  admire  him,  and  gave  no  occa- 
sion for  envy  and  hatred. 

The  promenade  in  front  of  the  villa,  under  the  overhanging 
linden-trees,  became  the  daily  resort  of  fashionable  families. 
Strangers  begged  for  admittance  to  the  house,  to  admire  the 
costly  paintings,  sculpture,  and  works  of  art  which,  day  by 
day,  were  being  added  to  the  already  rich  collection.  And 
when  the  fine  dust  raised  by  the  wheels  of  one  of  the  coun- 
selor's exquisite  carriages  blew  into  the  eyes  of  the  loiterers,  as 
it  drew  up  before  the  villa,  facetious  remarks  would  be  uttered 
that  "  surely  it  must  be  gold  dust,"  as  it  belonged  to  the 
millionaire  who  owned  the  property. 

Alterations  of  various  kinds  were  going  on  about  the  park. 
Here  and  there  familar  pathways  were  temporarily  rendered 
impassable  by  beautiful  slabs  and  blocks  of  white  marble  lying 
across  the  grass,  for  the  improvements  going  on  in  the  stables, 
which  had  long  since  become  too  small  for  the  increased  num- 
ber of  horses. 

Immense  mounds  of  earth  marked  the  spot  where  the  new 
lake  was  to  be,  and  numbers  of  workmen  were  occupied  in 
decorating  and  repairing  a  large  ancient  pavilion,  which  com- 
manded an  uninterrupted  view  of  the  town  on  one  side,  of  the 
promenade  and  grounds  around  the  house  on  the  other.  The 
interior  of  the  house  itself  had  been  subject  to  many  alterations 
and  many  changes;  under  pretense  of  enlarging  a  window,  or 
having  a  door  opened  through  a  wall,  the  counselor  had  sug- 
gested changing  the  furniture  of  the  room,  and  had  produced 
from  his  pocket  samples  of  rich  carpet  and  designs  for  em- 
bellishing the  ceiling,  entreating  Mme.  Urach  to  make  a  choice 
and  give  orders  for  the  furnishing  of  the  room,  according  to 
the  dictates  of  her  invariable  good  taste.  She  generally  grum- 
bled and  objected  at  first,  but  in  the  end  agreed  to  the  wishes 
of  her  graudson-in-law,  while  protesting  against  improvements 
<vhich  she  herself  considered  quite  unnecessary. 

While  these  alterations  were  going  on  the  counselor  came 
and  went  like  a  bird  of  passage.  He  traveled  about  a  great 
deal,  and  when  asked  by  Mme.  Urach  why  he  did  not  retire 
from  business,  he  replied  that  he  intended  doing  so  in  a  short 
time,  when  he  would  purchase  an  estate  for  himself  and  live 
on  his  property  as  befitted  his  rank  and  wealth.  Whenever  he 
allowed  himself  a  few  days'  leisure  at  the  villa  he  passed  many 
of  his  hours  on  the  first-floor  in  Henriette's  and  Kathe's 
private  sitting-room,  where  he  never  failed  to  appear  also  for 
his  after-dinner  coffee;  and  as  Mme.  Urach  was  far  too  wide 


172  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

awake  to  allow  her  "  dear  Moriz  "  to  lounge  about  Henriette'o 
sofa  alone  with  the  two  girls,  she  made  a  sacrifice  of  herself 
and  generally  managed  to  appear  in  the  room  either  a  few 
moments  after  his  entrance  there,  or  to  join  him  on  the  stairs 
before  his  arrival. 

As  far  as  Kathe  was  concerned,  she  was  very  grateful  to  the 
old  lady  for  her  opportune  visits.  The  young  girl  felt  a 
strange  painful  shyness  in  her  guardian's  presence,  since  the 
time  when  he  had  spoken  so  tenderly  and  affectionately  to 
herself,  but  so  falsely  and  slightingly  of  Mme.  Urach.  Un- 
willingly she  adopted  toward  him  the  bashful  reserve  of  a 
grown-up  young  lady,  where  she  had  formerly  been  as  out- 
spoken and  ingenuous  as  a  child.  But  this  change  in  her 
manner  appeared  to  delight  the  counselor,  and  to  render  her 
presence  more  and  more  attractive  to  him.  Every  wish  of  hers 
he  gratified  as  soon  as  he  had  had  time  to  divine  it.  Some 
weeks  ago  he  had  sold  the  uncultivated  piece  of  the  Mill-house 
garden  to  the  factory  hands,  and  any  charity  scheme  of  hers 
he  had  carried  out  at  once,  and  no  matter  how  often  her  purse 
was  empty  he  refilled  it  without  an  objection. 

"  You  can  have  what  you  want,  Kathe;  I  shall  soon  have  to 
buy  you  another  strong-box/ '  he  remarked  once,  glancing 
significantly  at  the  iron  safe  containing  the  receipts  of  her  im- 
mense fortune,  a  note  of  which  he  held  in  his  hand. 

She  did  not  reply,  but  received  the  statement  with  an  air  of 
gloomy  reserve  that  did  not  escape  his  notice.  In  spite  of  his 
diplomatic  reasoning  and  wily  answers  to  her  searching  ques- 
tions relative  to  the  manner  in  which  her  grandfather's  fortune 
had  been  realized,  the  doubt  raised  by  the  women  in  the  forest, 
that  it  had  not  been  gained  without  considerable  oppression 
among  the  poorer  classes,  remained  obstinately  in  her  mind, 
and  each  time  her  wealth  was  alluded  to  she  grew  silent  and 
nervous,  and  evidently  afraid  of  the  amount  of  gold  she  pos- 
sessed. 

During  the  past  few  weeks  she  had  become  more  thoughtful 
and  less  childish  than  formerly.  The  sunny  smile  which  had 
illuminated  her  face  fifty  times  a  day  was  rarely  seen  now,  her 
joyous  laughter  was  hardly  ever  heard,  her  old  merriness  and 
light-heartedness  seemed  to  have  quite  deserted  her,  except 
when  she  passed  a  few  hours  in  the  house  by  the  river,  and 
then  only  returned  by  fits  and  starts. 

It  was  the  widow's  custom  to  collect  as  many  of  the  poor 
children  of  the  neighborhood  as  she  could  gather  togethei 
every  Wednesday  and  Saturday  afternoon,  for  the  purpose  of 
teaching  them  to  sew  and  knit:  and  in  this  charitable  work 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  173 

Kathe  earnestly  entreated  to  be  allowed  to  take  an  active  part. 
She  loved  children  dearly,  and  the  little  creatures  soon  learned 
to  love  her  as  warmly  as  she  herself  could  wish.  She  clothed 
them  where  necessary,  making  the  pinafores  and  frocks  her- 
self, and  what  the  widow  could  not  possibly  do — provided  a 
meal  of  bread,  and  fruit,  and  milk  for  each  of  the  children, 
when  the  lesson  in  sewing  was  over.  The  old  lady's  face  al- 
ways beamed  with  satisfaction,  as  the  young  H.rl  appeared  at 
her  bi-weekly  gatherings  with  a  tray  of  fruit  and  dainty  little 
loaves  in  her  hand,  which  she  distributed  among  the  hungry 
little  guests,  with  a  smile  that  made  the  welcome  gift  a  double 
pleasure  to  receive.  When  the  weather  permitted,  the  poor 
children  were  allowed  to  sit  out  under  the  trees  and  enjoy  the 
sweet  fresh  air;  and  often  when  the  work  had  been  done  well, 
and  little  fingers  had  diligently  mastered  the  difficulty  of  turn- 
ing a  heel  in  a  stocking,  or  hemming  the  bib  to  an  apron, 
Kathe  would  produce  balls,  skipping-ropes  and  other  toys,  and 
encourage  the  children  to  play  for  an  hour  on  the  grass  in 
front  of  the  house  before  returning  home  to  their  fathers  and 
mothers. 

These  proceedings  did  not  please  Flora  at  all;  but  she  had 
the  good  sense  to  refrain  from  openly  expressed  objections  to 
what  Kathe  did  in  the  hearing  of  the  inmates  of  the  house  by 
the  river,  for  she  knew,  as  she  remarked  one  day  with  a  sneer: 
"  The  old  lady  thinks  all  the  world  of  Kathe,  and  imagines 
she  is  endowed  with  every  virtue  under  the  sun/' 

Flora  herself  visited  the  house  every  day;  she  had  had  a 
dozen  white  embroidered  aprons  made,  in  one  of  which  she 
always  appeared,  knowing  full  well  that  it  became  her  charm- 
ingly, and  pleased  the  widow,  whom  she  exerted  herself  to  her 
utmost  to  fascinate.  She  would  stoop  her  lovely  face  over  the 
hot  stove,  while  "  auntie  "  taught  her  how  to  make  pancakes; 
she  learned  the  art  of  preserving  fruit  and  bottling  vegetables; 
she  penetrated  the  mysteries  of  the  laundry,  and  even  once 
took  up  an  iron  and  passed  it  slowly  over  a  handkerchief  that 
the  maid  had  just  straightened  for  ironing.  She  looked  over 
the  housekeeping  books,  and  made  her  head  ache  by  casting 
up  accounts,  but  do  what  she  would  she  could  not  succeed  in 
coaxing  the  widow  out  of  the  habitual  reserve  of  manner  she 
had  adopted  toward  her  since  the  evening  of  the  day  Henrietta 
had  been  carried  to  her  house. 

The  sudden  change  in  Dr.  Brack's  future  prospects  was  still 
regarded  with  wonder  and  astonishment.  Many  of  the  families 
in  town  found  it  difficult  to  believe  that  the  hitherto  slighted 
and  retiring  young  doctcr  could  possibly  be  the  man  who 


174  IN-  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

henceforward  to  walk  along  the  streets  of  the  capital  as  an 
honored  Hofrath  and  professor.  Public  opinion  veered  round 
\n  his  favor,  patients  poured  in  from  all  quarters,  and  a  fort- 
night after  his  good  fortune  in  securing  the  duke's  favor  was 
known  he  rarely  had  time  to  sit  half  an  hour  at  his  desk — had 
to  sleep  in  town,  dine  where  he  could,  and  if  he  wished  to  pay 
a  flying  visit  to  the  villa  and  his  aunt,  he  was  obliged  to  steal 
the  time  for  his  absence  by  refusing  to  place  on  his  overfull, 
list  the  name  of  a  new  patient. 

Kathe  saw  him  very  seldom,  and  when  she  did  she  could  not 
help  remarking  how  changed  he  was.  He  looked  pale  and 
haggard,  and  an  absent,  thoughtful,  well-nigh  gloomy  manner 
had  taken  the  place  of  his  formerly  reserved  but  genial  con- 
versation and  appearance.  Since  the  moment  when  she  had 
surprised  him  with  Flora's  arms  round  his  neck  he  had  scarcely 
interchanged  two  words  with  Kathe,  and  then  in  such  a  hurried 
shy  way  that  the  young  girl  fancied  he  could  not  forgive  her 
unintentional  appearance  on  that  occasion,  and  resented  it  by 
avoiding  her  whenever  he  could.  She,  on  her  side,  felt 
wounded  and  pained  by  his  coldness,  and  rarely  ever  entered 
the  room  when  she  knew  he  was  likely  to  be  there. 

His  manner  to  Flora  had  not  undergone  the  slightest  change 
as  far  as  Kathe  could  observe.  He  had  ever  been  a  reserved 
undemonstrative  lover  since  Kathe  had  known  him;  but  often 
she  found  herself  wondering  whether  the  passionate  scene  in 
Henriette's  sick-room  had  been  a  mere  dream  on  her  part,  or 
whether  the  young  doctor  was  capable  of  forgetting  disagree- 
able events  sooner  and  more  completely  than  other  people. 
Flora  must  naturally  have  hoped  that  after  humbling  herself 
to  beg  for  forgiveness  for  her  bitter  words,  her  lover  would 
return  to  the  old  affectionate  relations  which  had  existed  be- 
tween them  when  first  they  were  engaged.  Was  he  not 
supremely  happy  in  feeling  sure  of  her  whom  he  had  so  pas- 
sionately worshiped,  even  when  she  repulsed  him?  Perhaps3 
he  preferred  concealing  his  happiness — at  all  events  he  did  not 
show  it;  and  his  beautiful  betrothed  comforted  herself  with 
the  thought  that  a  man  of  his  temperament  found  it  rather 
hard  to  forgive;  but  that  when  once  they  were  married,  and 
the  wedding  was  fixed  for  September,  all  would  be  well. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  20th  of  May,  Flora's  birthday,  ar- 
rived. Her  room  was  gay  with  sweet-smelling  flowers,  sent  by 
many  of  her  friends.  On  a  center-table  stood  a  superb  bou~ 
quet,  the  gift  of  the  reigning  duchess,  who  sent  it  early  in  the 
day  as  a  mark  of  honor  to  the  future  wife  of  the  new  Hofrath, 
and  several  congratulatory  messages  had  arrived  during  tkq 


IKT  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  173 

morning  from  various  members  of  the  royal  family.  Certainly 
the  fair  bride  had  cause  to  congratulate  herself  on  her  future 
prospects,  and  to  consider  herself,  at  least  on  this  special  day, 
a  favorite  of  the  gods.  And  yet  a  shadow  was  over  her  fore- 
head, and  her  mouth  quivered  more  than  once  with  suppressed 
impatience  and  anger.  On  a  round  table,  between  her  grand- 
mother's gifts  and  those  of  her  sisters,  stood  a  handsome  black 
marble  time-piece,  the  birthday  gift  of  Dr.  Bruck.  He  had 
sent  it  with  an  accompanying  note,  saying  that  it  was  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  come  over  to  the  villa  in  the  morning,  on  ac- 
count of  his  not  being  able  to  leave  a  patient  who  was  danger- 
ously ill. 

"  I  can't  understand  Leo's  not  finding  me  a  prettier  present 
than  that  stone  thing  there,"  she  said,  with  an  air  of  vexation, 
to  Mme.  Urach,  who  was  stooping  over  the  duchess's  bouquet 
as  if  she  expected  it  to  smell  sweeter  than  the  others  about  the 
room.  "  A  black  birthday  present  is  not  a  happy  choice — and 
I  must  say  that  I  think  it  is  greatly  wanting  in  taste  on  his 
part." 

"  The  clock  is  just  the  thing  for  this  room,  and  was  chosen 
to  please  you,  Flora — it  matches  the  furniture  splendidly," 
said  Henriette,  who  was  lying  on  a  sofa  near  the  window,  as 
she  pointed  significantly  to  the  corners  of  the  room. 

"Absurd!  You  know  as  well  as  I  do  that  I  can't  carry 
away  the  furniture  here.  Moriz  had  it  made  to  please  me, 
but  he  did  not  give  it  to  me;  besides,  I  have  no  desire  to  take 
it;  one  gets  as  weary  of  looking  at  the  same  furniture  always 
as  one  would  at  the  same  dress.  What  can  I  do  with  that 
black  thing?  It  won't  do  to  put  it  in  my  boudoir  in  Leipsic, 
where  the  walls  are  to  be  pale  lilac  and  the  decorations  all  of 
bronze." 

"  A  fresh  bunch  of  flowers  would  have  been  more  to  my 
taste,  but  then  you  see,  Flora,  you  are  not  a  bit  senti- 
mental," answered  Henriette,  with  a  malicious  twinkle  in  her 
oyes,  as  she  glanced  across  at  Kathe,  who  was  standing  by  an 
exquisite  myrtle-tree. 

This  myrtle  plant  had  been  reared  with  great  care  by 
"Auntie  Diakonus.,  '  who  had  sent  it  over  to  the  bride-elect 
•is  a  birthday  gift;  but  few  besides  Kathe  and  Henriette  seemed 
to  appreciate  the  beauty  of  the  present,  or  to  understand  that 
it  had  been  given  at  the  cost  of  great  self-sacrifice  on  the  part 
of  the  widowed  lady. 

After  dinner  the  drawing-rooms  and  balcony  were  soon  filled 
with  a  succession  of  visitors,  who  came  to  congratulate  Flora, 
And  to  admire  the  tables  full  ol  presents.  The  day  was  so 


176  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

warm  that  windows  and  doors  were  thrown  open,  and  the 
sweet  perfumed  outer  air  gained  free  admittance  through  the 
magnificent  sweep  of  apartments  in  which  the  guests  were 
assembled. 

Heuriette  reclined  on  a  sofa  near  the  open  balcony  door. 
She  had  wished  to  appear  on  this  festive  occasion  in  a  toilet  of 
pure  white  tulle  and  muslin,  similar  to  the  dress  Kathe  was 
wearing  to-day  for  the  first  time,  but  prudence  compelled  her 
to  wrap  her  emaciated  figure  in  a  white  crepe  de  Chine  shawl, 
over  which  her  heavy  fair  hair  fell  in  rich  and  luxuriant 
abundance.  She  looked  very  ill,  and  the  sunlight  playing 
over  her  face  seemed  to  heighten  the  dark  rim  round  her  un- 
naturally large  eyes,  to  sharpen  the  thin  outlines  of  her  feat- 
ures, and  to  render  more  plain  than  usual  the  leaden  hue  of 
her"  complexion,  which  was  never  tinged  with  color  unless  she 
was  suffering  from  feverishness.  She  had  just  begged  Kathe 
to  go  and  play  Schubert's  exquisite  melody,  the  "  Lob  der 
Thranen,"  and  was  impatiently  waiting  for  her  to  begin,  when 
her  pale  face  suddenly  flushed  scarlet,  and  her  thin  hands  were 
clasped  to  her  bosom  as  if  in  pain — for  on  the  threshold  of  the 
door  opposite  to  the  music-room  stood  Dr.  Bruck. 

Flora  flew  to  his  side,  and  put  her  hand  through  his  arm, 
and  ere  he  had  time  to  greet  half  her  assembled  guests  she 
entreated  him  to  follow  her  into  her  room  in  order  to  look  at 
her  numerous  gifts.  In  spite  of  her  nine-and-twenty  years, 
and  latent  desire  to  be  regarded  as  a  blue-stocking,  Flora  dis- 
played to-day  the  naive,  ingenuous  manners  of  a  girl  of  sixteen, 
which  her  sweet  face  and  graceful  figure  enabled  her  to  adopt 
to  perfection. 

Kathe  was  standing  by  the  piano,  looking  for  the  notes  of 
the  desired  melody,  when  the  engaged  pair  entered  and  passed 
through  the  room.  Dr.  Bruck  bowed,  she  shyly /eturned  his 
silent  greeting,  and  without  a  word  continued  her  occupation. 
Presently  through  the  open  door  she  heard  Flora  say: 

"  Leo,  I  have  determined  to-day  to  put  an  end  to  the  past, 
in  which  I  have  made  so  great  a  mistake,  and  which  was 
well-nigh  the  cause  of  my  losing  the  happiness  of  my  life.  I 
will  not  refer  to  that  miserable  evening  when  I  lost  all  control 
over  my  reason,  and  uttered  words  that  I  in  my  heart  knew  to 
be  false,  or  rather  I  only  refer  to  it  to  tell  you  that  you  also 
were  wrong  in  what  you  said.  It  was  not  a  mere  impulse 
which  prompted  me  to  write — it  may  as  well  be  said  once  and 
for  all — but  my  inborn  genius.  Don't  question  me  further — 
though  I  will  tell  you  that  I  should  have  succeeded  as  an  au- 
hor  if  only  by  means  of  a  work  of  mine,  that  you  have  not 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  177 

f-fcn,  on  '  Women. '  It  has  been  favorably  criticised  by  those 
competent  to  judge  of  its  merits,  and  my  name  would  have 
been  honored  in  the  literary  world;  but  how  could  I  possibly 
think  now  of  going  through  life  by  your  side,  and  at  the  same 
time  devote  my  energies  to  developing  my  own  special  talents? 
No,  no,  Leo,  1  will  bask  in  the  glory  and  brightness  of  your 
greatness  as  becomes  an  admiring  wife;  and  in  order  to  avoid., 
in  the  future,  being  tempted  to  return  to  my  much-loved  study, 
these  manuscripts,  which  are  the  result  of  many  hours  of 
thought  and  poetic  inspiration,  shall  disappear  forever  from 
the  face  of  the  earth." 

Kathe  found  the  piece  of  music  at  last,  and  as  she  went  over 
to  the  piano  she  saw  Flora  strike  a  lucifer,  light  the  leaves  of 
the  manuscript,  and  throw  it  hesitatingly  into  the  empty 
•stove.  With  a  half  glance  toward  the  doctor  the  young  girl 
observed  that  he  made  no  attempt  to  hinder  the  destruction  of 
the  precious  papers.  Whatever  Flora  may  have  hoped  or  ex- 
pected from  him  he  made  no  sign  of  wishing  to  stop  the  auto- 
da-fe. 

Silent  and  gloomy  in  expression  he  stood  unmoved  by  the 
window;  and  while  the  fumes  of  the  burning  paper  were 
wafted  by  the  summer  air  to  the  music-room,  and  Flora 
watched  the  consuming  flames  with  quivering  lips  and  flashing 
eyes,  Kathe  placed  herself  on  the  music-stool,  and  began  play- 
ing Liszt '&  well-known  arrangement  of  the  "  Lob  der  Thra- 
nen,"  determined  not  to  hear  Dr.  Brack's  reply  to  Flora's 
ostentatious  self-sacrifice,  unwilling  witness  as  she  had  again 
been  to  a  scene  between  him  and  his  betrothed  wife. 

As  her  fingers  mechanically  passed  over  the  keys,  the  thought 
flashed  through  her  brain  that  he  would  hate  her  in  time  if  he 
became  aware  of  her  presence  during  such  moments  of  private 
explanation.  She  heard  him  speaking,  but  though  his  voice 
reached  her  ears  the  words  he  uttered  were  unintelligible;  for 
she  resolutely  applied  her  energies  to  the  task  before  her,  and 
would  not  allow  herself  to  be  beguiled  into  paying  the  least 
attention  to  what  was  passing  in  the  room  at  her  side. 

Presently,  when  she  had  finished,  on  rising  from  her  seat, 
she  saw  Flora  emerging  from  her  sanctum,  about  to  cross  over 
to  the  outer  drawing-room.  She  was  not  now  hanging  caress- 
ingly on  her  lover's  arm,  as  she  had  been  when  she  traversed 
the  apartment  a  short  while  previously,  but  walked  slowly  by 
his  side,  holding  the  princess's  bouquet  in  her  hand,  with  a 
downcast  mien  about  her,  as  if  she  had  been  forced  to  recog- 
nize at  last  that  she  had  found  her  master. 


178  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

As  she  passed  the  piano  she  cast  an  angry  glance  at  Kathe, 
and,  standing  still  for  a  moment,  said,  sharply: 

"What  a  blessing  yon  have  finished,  child!  You  were 
making  such  a  terrible  noise  just  now  one  could  hardly  hear 
one's  self  speak  even  in  the  next  room.  You  play  your  own 
compositions  very  nicely;  but  then  they  are  such  simple, 
childish  melodies,  without  much  depth  in  them,  but  Schubert 
and  Liszt  are  beyond  you,  my  dear,  and  require  more  practice 
and  greater  knowledge  of  music  than  you  possess  to  render 
them  perfectly,  and  you  are  not  yet  a  finished  pianist. " 

"  Henriette  asked  me  to  play  the  piece  for  her/'  replied 
Kathe,  quietly.  "  I  have  never  given  myself  out  as  a  finished 
pianist — " 

"  No,  darling,  we  know  you  have  not;  and  I  am  very  glad 
you  don't  go  in  for  gymnastics  on  the  piano, "  broke  in  Henri- 
ette, who  was  standing  on  the  threshold  of  the  door.  "  But 
no  one  knows  better  than  you  how  to  play  Schubert  with  the 
deepest  feeling.  Perhaps  Flora  fancies  that  the  tears  you 
bring  to  one's  eyes  when  playing  his  compositions  are  the  re- 
sult of  mere  compliment?" 

"  Diseased  nerves,  my  dear — nothing  more!"  Flora  replied, 
laughingly,  as  she  followed  the  doctor  into  the  large  drawing- 
room. 

Here  Mme.  Urach  was  sitting,  with  a  flushed  face  and 
troubled  aspect,  one  hand  holding  her  eyeglass,  the  other  a 
letter  which  had  just  been  brought  to  her  by  a  servant. 

"  Oh,  my  dear  Hofrath!"  she  began,  as  the  young  doctor 
entered  the  room,  addressing  him  by  his  new  title,  which  she 
made  use  of  as  often  as  it  was  possible  to  introduce  it  in  con- 
versation. "  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  my  friend 
Baroness  Steiner,  in  which  she  announces  her  intention  of 
coming  here  in  a  few  days,  in  order  to  seek  help  and  advice 
from  you.  It  appears  that  her  little  grandson,  the  last  scion 
of  the  old  Von  Brandau  family,  has  been  limping  in  his  walk 
lately,  and  the  worthy  doctors  she  has  had  to  see  him  are  evi- 
dently perplexed  about  the  cause  of  this  misfortune.  Will  you 
examine  the  boy,  and  undertake  the  case?" 

"  Very  willingly,  on  one  condition." 

"  And  that  is?" 

"  That  the  lady  does  not  make  too  great  a  demand  on  my 
time, "  replied  the  young  doctor,  who  knew  from  experience 
that  high-born  aristocratic  mothers  were  apt  to  consider  time 
as  of  no  account,  and  liked  to  have  a  passing  cold  treated  with 
the  same  attention  as  a  serious  illness. 

Mme.  Urach  was  perceptibly  hurt  at  the  indifferent  manner 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  17$ 

in  which  her  request  was  granted,   but  she  said  nothing. 
Presently,  turning  to  Flora,  she  said: 

"  The  baroness  is  evidently  offended  at  my  last  letter  to  her, 
in  which  I  was  obliged  to  put  off  her  visit  to  us  for  a  time. 
She  says  as  much  in  this  " — and  the  old  lady  tapped  the  paper 
in  her  hand  with  her  eyeglass — "  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  if 
would  -have  been  long  ere  she  wrote  to  me  again  but  for  thL 
new  sorrow  and  anxiety  about  her  grandson.  You  may  1m 
agine,  Flora,  how  grieved  I  am  about  it.  She  now  suggest*, 
staying  at  a  hotel,  the  one  most  available  for  our  Hofrath; 
and  begs  me  to  engage  at  least  five  rooms  for  her.  She  regrets 
we  are  so  full  that  we  can  not  take  her  in,"  added  the  old 
lady,  as  she  glanced  reproachf  ally  at  the  young  girl  standing 
at  her  side. 

Kathe  blushed  with  pride  and  shame  that  Mme.  Urach 
should  thus  covertly  reproach  her  for  a  position  she  had  no 
power  to  change,  and  then  the  sweet  girlish  face  paled  as  she 
opened  her  lips  to  speak.  But  ere  she  had  time  to  utter  a 
sound  Mme.  Urach  went  on: 

•"  We  could  manage  to  have  her  here,  and  put  her  on  the 
first-floor,  if  she  were  not  so  particular  about  having  five 
rooms.  I  suppose  she  wants  a  sitting-room  for  herself  and 
her  daughter,  also  another  for  little  Job  Brandau  and  his 
bonne,  and  three  bedrooms — for  she  brings  her  maid  with  her, 
of  course,"  she  added,  as  she  rested  her  head  on  her  hand. 

"  All  of  which  means  that  Kathe  is  in  the  way,  and  you 
wish  this  exacting  baroness  to  occupy  her  rooms.  Is  it  not  so, 
grandma?"  cried  Henriette,  in  her  usual  sharp  angry  tones. 

"  I  have  already  suggested  going  over  to  the  Mill-house," 
remarked  Kathe,  quietly,  as  she  gently  smoothed  Henriette's 
hair. 

"  I  know  a  better  plan  than  that,  Kathe,  if  you  are  obliged 
to  move  at  all,"  continued  the  little  invalid,  her  eyes  brighten- 
ing. "  We  will  ask  Auntie  Diakonus  to  let  you  have  that  nice 
pleasant  spare  room  of  hers.  I  know  she  will  be  delighted  to 
have  you,  for  she  loves  you  dearly  and  thinks  no  one  equal  to 
you.  Your  piano  can  be  taken  over  for  you,  and  then  I  shall 
come  and  see  you  as  often  as  I  can.  I  know  '  auntie  '  will  let 
me,  for — '  She  broke  off  suddenly  as  her  glance  fell  on  the 
doctor,  who  had  turned  away  to  the  window,  but  now  faced 
round  upon  her  with  such  flashing  eyes  that  the  poor  little 
invalid  fancied  he  must  be  out  of  his  mind. 

"  I  think  it  would  be  more  practical  and  better  hi  ever} 
way  to  send  the  boy  and  his  botuio  to  my  house,"  he  said, 
coldly  and  decisively. 


180  lit   THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Mme.  TJrach  fidgeted  with  the  string  of  her  cap,  and  made 
no  attempt  to  repress  an  ironical  smile  which  played  for  a 
moment  round  her  mouth  as  she  replied: 

"I  am  afraid,  my  dear  H of rath,  that  that  arrangement  is 
quite  out  of  the  question.  My  old  friend  would  never  dream 
of  parting  with  the  child,  besides,  you  have  no  idea  what  a 
spoiled,  pampered  boy  he  is.  Our  hereditary  prince  is  not 
half  so  luxuriously  brought  up  as  this  last  and  only  scion  ol 
the  Brandaus.  The  ugly  puny  child  sleeps  in  a  bed  of  satin 
and  lace,  and —  Well,  the  family  are  rich,  you  see,  and  think 
all  such  luxuries  indispensable;  even  we  find  it  a  difficult  mat- 
ter to  entertain  them  in  a  manner,  they  are — 

"  How  can  you  suggest  taking  such  a  little  wretch  who  is 
the  most  tiresome  and  willful  of  boys  into  your  house,  Leo? 
He  would  worry  '  auntie  '  to  death,"  broke  in  Henriette, 
addressing  the  doctor;  and  utterly  regardless  of  what  she  was 
saying,  she  went  on  excitedly:  "  What  has  Kathe  done  to  vex 
you?  I  have  been  noticing  for  a  long  time  how  cold  and  un- 
friendly you  are  to  her.  What  is  it?  Is  she  not  grand  enough 
for  you,  because  her  grandfather  was  the  old  castle  miller? 
You  never  seem  to  think  it  worth  your  while  to  talk  to  her, 
and  really  it  is  too  absurd,  for  after  all  she  is  Flora's  sister  as 
much  as  I  am,  although  her  mother  was  not  ours.  We  had 
the  same  father,  you  know.  We  all  say  '  thee  '  and  '  thou  '  to 
each  other,  why  should  she  not  say  it  to  you,  and  you  to  her, 
as  I  do?" 

"  My  dear  Henriette,  I  have  never  particularly  liked  the 
habit  you  have  fallen  into  of  saying  '  thou '  to  Leo,  and  if  I 
could  have  my  own  way  you  should  not  do  it  any  more  than 
Kathe,"  said  Flora,  sharply.  "  I  have  no  notion  of  allowing 
any  one  else  to  share  in  my  special  privileges  if  I  can  help  it, 
though  in  your  case  I  make  no  objection  now,  considering  you 
have  claimed  the  right  from  the  very  first,  but  I  see  no  reason 
for  Kathe's  assuming  any  such  intimacy  with  Leo,  and  I  shall 
strenuously  oppose  it,"  and  she  threw  her  arms  around  her 
lover's  neck  and  looked  up  smilingly  in  his  face. 

It  might  have  been  that  the  young  man  objected  to  being 
caressed  in  the  presence  of  others,  or  perhaps  Henriette's  re- 
proach had  irritated  him  beyond  endurance,  for  he  started 
aside  as  if  he  had  been  stung  when  the  soft  hand  touched  his 
shoulder,  and  his  face  grew  livid  and  pale. 

Kathe  took  advantage  of  the  momentary  silence  which  fol- 
lowed Flora's  energetic  remark,  to  quit  her  position  by  Mme. 
Urach's  chair,  and  to  walk  toward  the  door  with  the  intention 
of  leaving  the  room.  The  poor  girl's  heart  ached,  and  she 


IN    THE    COUNSELORS    HOtlSE.  181 

longed  to  burst  into  tears.  Bitterly  as  she  felt  the  unkindness 
of  Mme.  Urach's  behavior  toward  her,  and  the  awkwardness 
of  her  position  with  Dr.  Bruck  after  Flora's  absurd  refusal  to 
admit  her  into  the  intimacy  enjoined  by  Henriette,  she  held 
back  her  tears,  and  forced  her  manner  to  assume  a  certain 
amount  of  calmness,  which  she  was  far  from  feeling  inwardly. 

She  had  nearly  reached  the  door  when  it  was  suddenly 
opened  from  the  outside,  and  the  counselor  walked  in.  For 
one  moment  Kathe  forgot  all  the  shyness  and  reserve  which 
she  had  lately  felt  toward  him,  all  the  annoyance  caused  by 
his  undisguised  preference  for  her  society;  she  only  saw  before 
her  the  guardian  who  stood  to  her  in  the  place  of  her  father, 
the  man  to  whom  she  had  a  right  to  look  for  protection  and 
help  in  every  difficulty  and  trouble,  and  following  an  impulse 
over  which  she  had  no  control,  she  sprung  toward  him  and  laid 
her  hand  on  his  arm. 

He  looked  surprised  and  pleased,  smiled  down  on  the  up- 
turned, beseeching  face  at  his  side,  and  pressed  the  hand  rest- 
ing ^on  his  arm  close  to  his  heart.  In  his  hand  he  held  a 
somewhat  bulky  paper  box,  which  he  laid  on  the  table  near 
where  Mme.  Urach  was  sitting. 

His  entrance  had  interrupted  a  rather  unpleasing  scene,  and 
Henriette,  whose  unfortunate  remark  had  been  the  cause  of 
the  mischief,  was  so  delighted  at  his  unexpected  arrival  that 
she  uttered  half  aloud,  half  to  herself: 

"  I  could  hug  you,  you  dear  Moriz,  for  coming  here  just  at 
this  very  moment!" 

"  It  is  a  comfort  to  know  one  is  welcome,  at  any  rate,"  re- 
plied the  counselor,  with  one  of  his  bright  genial  smiles,  as  he 
caught  the  words  and  stretched  out  his  hands  to  the  little  in- 
valid reclining  on  the  sofa.  Then  turning  his  handsome  face 
toward  Flora,  he  said : 

"  At  last  I  have  brought  you  my  birthday  gift,  Flora,  and 
very  glad  I  am  it  is  all  right.  My  agent  accounts  for  his  delay 
in  sending  it  by  remarking  on  the  excessive  care  needed  in 
making  it,"  and  he  loosened  the  lid  while  he  spoke.  "Apropos 
to  your  birthday  I  have  still  another  pleasure  for  you,"  he 
interrupted  himself  to  add  in  a  light  gay  tone.  "  I  have  just 
been  told  that  you  are  revenged,  inasmuch  as  the  leader  of 
that  attack  on  you  in  the  forest  has  been  condemned  this 
morning,  and  is  to  suffer  a  pretty  long  term  of  imprisonment 
for  the  pleasure  she  had  of  showing  you  her  nails;  the  others 
have  got  off  with  a  reprimand,  either  because  they  are  very 
young  or  because  they  only  followed  a  bad  example. " 

"  But  surely  Flora  will  not  hear  this  news  in  the  light  of  a 


182  IBT  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

birthday  pleasure!"  cried  Henriette.  "  The  punishment  i* 
right.,  I  have  no  doubt,  and  even  that  hideous  depraved  woman 
must  acknowledge  she  deserves  it,  if  she  considers  the  matter 
at  all.  But  there  is  so  much  humiliation  and  shame  for  us  in 
the  affair,  for  it  is  dreadful  to  know  how  we  are  hated  by  these 
work-people — and  Flora  is  hated  most  of  all — that  I  thii^k, 
Moriz,  it  would  have  been  better  if  you  had  held  your  tongue 
about  it  to-day  of  all  days  in  the  year. " 

"  Do  you  think  so?"  said  Flora.  "  Moriz  knows  me  better 
— he  knows  that  I  soar  higher  than  a  mere  village  dame,  and 
that  I  don't  care  one  iota  to  be  popular;  nay,  that  I  would 
not  stir  my  little  finger  to  be  worshiped  by  the  whole  lot. 
You  thought  the  same  once  upon  a  time.  I  should  like  to 
know  what  you  would  have  said  eight  months  ago,  Henriette, 
if  any  one  had  ventured  to  defend  the  poor,  or  take  up  the 
people's  cause  in  our  drawing-room?  You  know  you  used  to 
be  bitter  enough  against  them,  but  since  Kathe's  arrival  the 
question  has  been  so  much  discussed  between  you  that  really 
one  hardly  dare  venture  to  express  an  opinion  contrary  to  your 
changed  notions  for  fear  of  being  assailed  with  overpowering 
arguments  and  youthful  indignation.  I  should  not  be  sur- 
prised even  to  hear  that  our  youngest  sister  Kathe  had  ordered 
roast  beef  and  soup  to  be  sent  to  that  woman  to  help  her  keep 
up  her  strength  during  her  punishment." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,  replied  Kathe,  courageously  re- 
pudiating her  beautiful  sister's  irony  and  sarcasm  by  a  straight- 
forward honest  glance  in  her  face;  "  but  I  made  a  few  inquiries 
about  her  family,  and  found  out  she  has  four  little  children, 
and  that  her  unmarried  brother,  who  worked  in  Moriz's  fac- 
tory, and  who  had  undertaken  to  look  after  the  little  ones,  is 
very  ill.  Of  course,  these  five  helpless  beings  can  not  be  al- 
lowed to  starve  while  the  necessary  punishment  is  being  carried 
out,  and — and  I  may  as  well  confess  at  once  that — that  I  mean 
to  take  care  of  them  till  their  natural  protector  is  at  liberty 
again,  and  their  uncle  is  able  to  work  for  them." 

The  counselor  turned  away,  but  Kathe  went  up  close  to 
him,  and  laying  her  hand  again  on  his  arm  she  said,  passion- 
ately, with  heightened  color  and  glowing  eyes: 

"  Moriz,  it  is  on  occasions  like  this  that  the  spending  of  my 
grandfather's  money  does  not  hurt  me." 

Mme.  Urach  moved  impatiently  on  her  chair;  such  excessive 
delicacy  of  sentiment  made  her  feel  angry;  she  had  no  sym- 
pathy with  such  far-fetched  notions  of  honor. 

"  A  very  pretty  beginning,  certainly!"  she  cried  out,  angrily. 
"  A  fortune  could  uot  have  found  its  way  into  more  dangerous 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  183 

hands  than  yours,  my  dear.  Yes,  dear  Hofrath,  you  may  well 
stand  looking  at  that  hand  resting  on  Moriz's  arm.  It  is  lying 
there  so  helplessly,  one  would  find  it  difficult  to  imagine  it  is 
the  same  one  which  determinedly  throws  out  of  window  to  the 
first  poor  person  the  money  Moriz  ought  to  be  guarding  for 
her  future  benefit!" 

Kathe  drew  away  her  hand  immediately,  but  not  before  she 
had  had  time  to  notice  the  frown  on  Dr.  Brack's  brow,  as  he 
glanced  from  those  white  fingers  on  the  coat  sleeve  to  the 
pictures  on  the  opposite  wall. 

"  What  nonsense,  grandmamma!  If  Leo  did  glance  at 
Kathe's  hand  it  was  not  intended  as  a  reproof/'  cried  Flora, 
sharply,  as  she  drew  back  a  little  and  noticed,  with  some  little 
anxiety,  the  changing  color  on  her  lover's  face;  "  he  was  al- 
ways very  enthusiastic  about  the  welfare  of  the  people,  and — " 

' '  But  not  now,  my  dear,  not  now  that  he  has  been  called  to 
fill  a  post  of  honor  about  the  court,  and  is  such  a  favorite  with 
the  prince." 

»"  And  why  should  my  present  position  alter  my  opinions?" 
the  young  doctor  demanded  in  a  quiet  tone,  though  his  voice 
was  low  and  rather  unsteady. 

"  But,  good  gracious,  doctor,  you  surely  do  not  intend  being 
mixed  tip  with  this  new  democratic  movement? — it  would 
never  do!"  exclaimed  Mme.  Urach,  anxiously. 

"  I  think  I  have  already  explained  many  times  that  I  have 
nothing  whatever  personally  to  do  with  the  democratic  societies 
you  refer  to,  madame,"  replied  the  young  man,  gently;  "  I 
only  trouble  myself  with  matters  intimately  connected  with 
every  true  man's  duty,  that  is  to  say  I  take  an  interest  in  the 
well-being  of  those  unable  to  look  after  sanitary  measures  for 
themselves,  and — 

But  he  was  interrupted  ruthlessly  by  Moriz,  who  had  been 
unfastening  the  box,  and  now  displayed  before  the  delighted 
eyes  of  the  ladies  a  beautiful  pale  amber  silk  dress  and  a  piece 
of  violet  velvet  of  rich  quality,  as  he  exclaimed: 

"  There,  Flora,  are  two  dresses  which  I  think  will  help  you 
to  make  your  debut  in  the  world  as  'the  famous  professor's 
wife." 

Moriz's  object  of  avoiding  an  unpleasant  discussion  was  ac- 
complished. Even  Henriette  forgot  her  annoyance  in  admira- 
tion of  the  lovely  fan  and  exquisite  flowers  which,  with  head- 
dress and  gloves,  accompanied  each  dress  and  completed  the 
birthday  gift. 

But  the  box  was  not  empty  yet. 

"  I  thought  I  would  bring  back  with  me  this  time  a  little 


184  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

souvenir  for  each  of  you/'  the  counselor  went  on,  after  the 
dresses  were  duly  admired  and  commented  upon,  "  because  I 
may  not  be  leaving  home  again  for  some  time,  and  if  I  do  I 
may  not  be  able  to  find  what  I  want,  so  I  just  ordered  these 
few  little  things  while  I  was  in  Berlin,  and  gave  myself  the 
pleasure  of  bringing  them  with  me.  There,  grandmamma, 
that  is  for  you,"  he  added,  as  he  laid  a  costly  lace  shawl  on 
the  old  lady's  lap,  which  caused  her  to  beam  with  delight. 

"  Here,  Henriette!"  and  he  displayed  a  soft  white  taffeta 
robe  before  the  glistening  eyes  of  the  little  invalid. 

Then  with  an  earnest,  passionate  and  expressive  gaze  that 
caused  her  to  droop  her  eyelids  for  a  moment  he  laid  in  Kathe's 
astonished  hand  a  handsomely  embossed  jewel-case. 

This  look  startled  the  young  girl,  and  revealed  to  her  the 
cause  for  the  strange,  scarcely  understood  reserve  which  had 
lately  been  working  within  her,  and  which  had  made  her  in- 
voluntarily shrink  from  intimate  intercourse  with  her  guard- 
ian. She  did  not  like  his  manner  toward  her,  or  the  warmth 
and  expression  of  his  eyes  each  time  he  regarded  her.  She 
would  put  an  end  to  it  if  she  could,  but  how?  It  seemed  to 
her  as  if  he  assumed  there  was  some  secret  understanding  be- 
tween them  by  his  daring  to  regard  her  in  his  strange  way, 
and  she  determined  it  should  not  be  repeated  again.  She 
would  not  have  him  look  at  her  like  that.  Shame,  indignation 
and  rebellion  at  her  will  being  thus  tacitly  subdued  in  the 
presence  of  others,  added  to  maidenly  reserve,  obliging  her  to 
be  silent,  were  each  struggling  for  the  mastery,  and  for  a  few 
moments  took  away  from  her  her  power  of  utterance. 

"  Well,  Kathe,  is  it  a  new  experience  for  you  to  have  a 
present  given  you?"  Flora  asked.  "  What  has  Moriz  chosen 
for  you?  Come,  we  shall  have  to  see  the  contents  sooner  or 
later,  so  let  me  look  at  it  now,  child,"  she  added,  taking  the 
case  out  of  Kathe's  trembling  hands.  Pressing  her  fingei 
against  the  spring,  the  lid  flew  open  and  presented  to  view  a 
magnificent  necklace  of  brilliants,  which  glittered  and  sparkled 
on  a  black  velvet  cushion.  Mme.  Urach  slowly  raised  her 
glass  to  her  eye. 

"Superb!  exquisite!  They  are  really  wonderfully  artistic 
and  antique-looking  for  imitation,  even  if — " 

"  Imitation!"  exclaimed  the  cotmselor,  hurriedly,  as  the  old 
lady  reached  out  her  hand  and  drew  the  case  close  to  her  for 
the  better  inspection  of  its  contents.  "  But  grandmamma, 
how  can  you  imagine  1  would  do  anything  so  mean?  Is  one 
thread  of  this  rich  stuff  of  bad  quality?"  he  asked,  touching 
the  violet  with  his  fingers,  "  I  never  buy  false  jewelry  or 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  185 

imitations  of  any  kind  on  principle — surely  you  know  that  by 
this  time?" 

The  old  lady  bit  her  lip  with  vexation  as  she  said,  hastily: 
"  Yes,  yes,  Moriz,  I  know  that  quite  well;  only  the  richness 
of  those  stones  surprised  me  for  a  moment.     Why,  my  dear, 
if  these  brilliants  are  pure — and  now  I  see  they  are — they  are 
finer  than  anything  of  the  kind  possessed  by  our  princess. " 

"  Then  I  am  sorry  the  prince  is  not  able  to  present  her  with* 
a  set,"  replied  the  counselor,  carelessly.  "But,  seriously 
speaking,  I  should  be  ashamed  to  give  Kathe  false  jewelry,  if 
for  no  other  reason  than  that  in  a  couple  of  years  she  will  be 
mistress  of  such  a  superb  fortune  that  she  will  be  able  to  pur- 
chase as  many  jewels  as  she  fancies;  and  then  if  my  present 
had  been  imitation  it  would  be  thrown  aside  in  the  corner  as 
worthless." 

"  That  I  can  well  believe,"  replied  Mme.  "Orach,  with  cut- 
ting irony.  "  Kathe  has  a  perfect  passion  for  everything  rich 
and  costly,  as  we  can  see  by  the  rich  silk  dresses  she  is  so  fond 
t)f  wearing  every  day;  but,  my  dear  child,  there  is  a  great  art 
in  dressing  becomingly,  and  it  must  be  learned  if  you  wish  to 
make  anything  of  a  figure  in  the  world,"  she  said,  as  she 
glanced  reprovingly  at  Kathe,  who  was  standing  near  the  table 
without  any  apparent  intention  of  claiming  her  right  to  ex- 
amine her  present.  "  Diamonds  are  not  worn  at  eighteen;  a 
girl  of  your  age  ought  to  be  content  to  wear  a  simple  cross  at 
her  throat  or  a  velvet  band  attached  to  a  locket — certainly 
nothing  more  expensive  than  a  simple  pearl  or  coral  necklet." 

"  You  forget,  grandmamma,  that  Kathe  will  not  always  be 
eighteen — or  an  unmarried  girl,"  broke  in  Flora,  flippantly. 
"  I  know  that,  don't  I,  Kathe?" 

The  young  girl's  eyes  flashed  with  anger  and  vexation,  and 
she  turned  proudly  away  without  a  word  of  reply. 

"  Oh,  how  superbly  disdainful  our  little  one  looks!"  said 
Flora,  laughing  to  try  and  hide  her  anger  and  confusion. 
"  One  would  think  I  had  touched  upon  a  state  secret  when  I 
teased  her!  Is  it  a  crime  to  wish  to  be  married,  you  little 
prude?  You  should  not  be  ashamed  to  confess  openly  what 
you  have  acknowledged  to  in  private."  Then  with  a  sly  ex- 
pressive glance  at  the  counselor  she  added,  as  she  daintily  held 
the  ornament  in  her  white  fingers:  "  Now,  really,  Moriz,  I 
must  say  that  this  necklet  ought  only  to  be  worn  by  the  wife 
of — a — a  millionaire. " 

Mme.  Urach  rose  hastily  from  her  seat,  gathered  he? 
glasses,  letter  and  handkerchief  together,  and  gave  an  mv 


186  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

patient  pull  to  the  lace  shawl  on  her  shoulders  as  she 
pointedly: 

"  I  hope,  Moriz,  you  will  always  be  as  particular  in  the 
future  to  buy  everything  of  the  genuine  sort;  the  champagne 
we  drank  at  dinner,  in  honor  of  Flora's  birthday,  was  certainly 
not  the  best;  it  has  made  my  head  ache  so  badly  I  must  go 
and  lie  down  for  an  hour. " 

And  she  walked  toward  the  door,  but  when  she  had  taken 
about  a  dozen  steps  she  turned  round,  and  handing  her  letter 
to  the  counselor,  she  remarked: 

"  When  my  headache  is  better  I  must  beg  you  to  come  to 
some  definite  decision  about  this,"  and  she  waved  the  paper  in 
a  marked  manner.  "  Read  it,  and  you  will  see  for  yourself 
that  it  will  be  impossible  to  refuse  the  baroness  a  second  time, 
and  not  to  lose  her  as  a  friend.  I  did  so  at  first  for  peace* 
sake,  that  is,  I  acquiesced  in  your  wish,  but  I  can  not  be  so 
submissive  again.  People  of  our  rank  are  not  accustomed  to 
be  taken  up  and  put  down  at  the  dictation  of  caprice.  Re- 
member that,  my  dear  Moriz!"  and  the  old  lady  smiled  grimly 
and  with  a  haughty  nod  of  her  head  quitted  the  room. 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  You  will  have  something  to  do  now,  Moriz,"  said  Flora, 
pointing  to  the  door  by  which  her  grandmother  had  just  left 
the  room.  "  Grandmamma  is  equipped  and  armed  to  the 
teeth  for  fight—" 

The  counselor  laughed  aloud. 

"  Ah,  well  you  may  laugh,  but  you  will  see  that  she  will  not 
surrender  one  inch  of  the  position  she  holds  here — not  a  hair's- 
breadth  will  she  yield  to  another.  I  have  often  told  you,  you 
gave  her  far  too  much  power  in  your  house;  I  warned  you  long 
ago  how  it  would  be — now  s'ee  how  you  will  get  out  of  this 
mess  you  are  in — "  Interrupting  herself  suddenly  she  took 
hold  of  the  young  doctor's  hand  and  said,  in  an  anxious  tone: 
"For  Heaven's  sake  tell  me  what  is  the  matter  with  you, 
Leo!"  and  receiving  no  answer,  she  went  on  after  a  moment: 
"  That  you  are  going  through  some  inward  struggle  I  know 
quite  well,  although  you  think  to  hide  it  from  me.  What  is 
it?  You  may  deceive  others,  but  the  eyes  of  love  are  keener, 
and  me  you  can  not  deceive.  Lines  are  creeping  into  your 
face  here  and  here;"  she  touched  with  her  finger  his  forehead, 
which  had  suddenly  become  crimson  to  the  roots  of  his  hair. 
' '  These  fresh-grown  furrows  make  me  very  anxious — you  look 
pallid  and  worn,  too,  lately.  You  arc  working  too  hard.  Do 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  187 

you  know?  No,  you  don't — well,  listen  then.  I  shall  take 
upon  myself  from  to-day  onward  to  send  one  of  our  men- 
servants  to  your  apartments  in  town  with  special  orders  from 
me  not  to  admit  to  your  presence  all  those  troublesome  people 
who  come  to  you  for  advice,  but  who  once  repaid  your  skill 
with  ill-concealed  scorn,  and  who  worry  you  to  death  with 
their  meanness  and  never-ending  demands  on  your  time/' 

Henrlette  looked  up  at  her  sister  while  she  was  speaking, 
with  eyes  ."ind  mouth  open  wide  with  astonishment,  while  the 
counselor  stroked  his  fine  beard  to  hide  his  inclination  to 
laugh.  But  Dr.  Bruck  himself,  whose  face  had  hitherto 
merely  expressed  indifference  and  passiveness,  now  suddenly 
assumed  a  sharp  angry  defiance,  and  he  laughed  bitterly  as  he 
said,  sternly,  and  in  a  very  decided  tone: 

"  You  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind,  Flora.  I  absolutely 
forbid  you  to  interfere  in  any  way  with  my  professional  duties, 
either  now  or  in  the  future. "  Then  turning  to  the  counselor, 
he  said,  quietly:  "  I  am  very  much  interested  in  one  of  my 
patients  who  is  dangerously  ill  both  mentally  and  bodily.  I 
want  to  talk  with  you  about  his  affairs,  Moriz.  Can  you  give 
me  a  few  moments  alone?" 

"A  patient  dangerously  ill?"  repeated  the  counselor, 
thoughtfully,  as  his  brows  contracted  into  a  frown,  and  his 
mouth  assumed  a  hard  compressed  look.  "  Ah,  yes,  I  remem- 
ber," he  went  on,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand;  "  it  must  be  that 
dare-devil  Lenz.  The  man  has  been  speculating  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent  for  his  means,  and  he  would  like  to  put  his  hands 
into  my  pockets  to  help  him  out  of  his  scrape;  no,  thank 
you!" 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  as  well  if  we  were  to  talk  it 
over  in  your  room?"  said  the  doctor,  firmly.  "  At  present  we 
are  the  only  two  whom  the  man  has  made  aware  of  his  affairs 
— not  even  his  wife  knows  why — " 

"  Well,  well,  I  am  curious  to  know  how  he  succeeded  in 
persuading  you  to  be  his  mediator,  but  I  doubt  if  I  shall  move 
even  my  little  finger  to  put  him  straight  again.  I  tell  you  the 
affair  is  hopeless,"  replied  the  counselor,  shrugging  his  shoul- 
ders, for  although  he  had  himself  gathered  riches  and  wealth 
around  him,  and  had  formerly  been  good-natured  enough  to 
those  struggling  about  him,  yet  now  he  seemed  incapable  of 
understanding  the  sorrows  and  troubles  of  less  fortunate  peo- 
ple. After  a  moment  he  added:  "  Besides,  you  of  all  people 
have  the  least  reason  to  sympathize  with  the  man,  for  you 
know  that  he  too  picked  up  a  stone  to  throw  at  you  not  so 
long  ago." 


188  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  Do  you  think  that  ought  to  affect  me?"  asked  Dr.  Brack, 
from  over  his  shoulder  as  he  gently  led  the  way  from  ths 
room,  his  tall  manly  figure  gaining  dignity  from  the  determi- 
nation of  his  manner,  appearing  taller  even  than  the  counselor, 
whose  usual  elegant  nonchalant  manner  was  changed  for  ihe 
moment  to  a  hesitating,  somewhat  shrinking,  half-defiant, 
half -frightened  air. 

When  the  door  closed  on  the  doctor  and  the  counselor  the 
three  girls  were  left  alone.  Flora  rang  loudly  for  her  maid  to 
take  away  her  brother-in-law's  costly  present,  while  Kathe 
drew  a  pair  of  gloves  from  her  pocket,  quickly  put  them  on, 
and  then  reached  out  her  hand  for  her  parasol. 

"  Are  you  going  out,  Kathe?"  asked  Henrietta  from  her 
reclining  chair. 

"  To-day  is  working  afternoon  at  Auntie  Diakonus's.  I 
am  already  late,  so  must  hurry  away,  for — "  answered  the 
young  girl,  unwillingly,  but  stopping  short  in  her  remark  as 
Flora  suddenly  threw  a  paper  box  of  flowers  with  an  angry 
gesture  across  the  room,  scattering  their  contents  all  over  the 
floor. 

"  This  wonderful  excess  of  business  is  enough  to  drive  one 
out  of  their  senses,"  cried  Flora,  angrily.  "This  'auntie,' 
the  very  personification  of  duty,  has  refused  my  invitation  to 
coffee,  because,  forsooth,  to-day  is  the  afternoon  when  all  those 
waifs  and  strays  of  the  to  mi  congregate  at  her  house  to  learn 
to  sew!  as  if  she  could  not  have  put  them  off — and  now,  here 
is  Kathe  following  suit,  and  gravely  asserting  that  she  too  has 
her  duty  to  attend  to  in  teaching  those  brats!" 

Then  waiting  till  the  maid  had  gathered  the  flowers  from 
the  floor  and  had  left  the  room,  she  seized  Kathe,  who  was 
also  about  to  follow  the  servant's  example,  by  the  arm,  and 
holding  her  firmly,  said : 

"  Just  wait  one  moment  while  I  tell  you  that  you  force  me 
to  play  a  part  for  which  I  have  very  little  patience.  It  is  a 
long  time  yet  to  September.  What  is  more  likely  than  that 
*  auntie '  will  expect  her  nephew's  future  wife  to  make  the 
Bame  heroic  self-sacrifice  for  the  good  of  the  people  as  she  ac- 
cepts daily  now  from  you,  her  pattern  of  all  that  is  good  and 
eweet?  She  will  think  that  I  too  ought  to  take  hold  of  the 
dirty  little  fingers  and  patiently  pick  up  the  dropped  stitches 
of  a  dirtier  stocking  till  the  stupid  little  peasant's  brain  has 
mastered  the  art  of  knitting;  that  I  ought  to  wash  dirty  faces, 
stroke  uncombed  hair,  and  be  willing  to  play  at  catch-catch 
with  all  the  little  vagabonds  of  the  place.  Bah!  I  should  like 
to  see  myself  doing  it!  I  did  trv  it  once,  but  it  made  me  sick. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  189 

And  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  dear  good,  woman  is  pouring 
into  Leo's  ears  complaints  of  me  from  morning  till  night:  how 
proud  and  haughty  I  am — and  how  heartless  I  must  be  not  to 
love  dirty  children.  Now  for  this  very  reason :  for  the  reason 
that  I  don't  mean  to  be  set  up  as  a  contrast  to  you — I  must 
beg  you  in  future  not  to  go  so  often  to  that  house,  to  my 
future  home.  I  won't  have  you  visiting  there  as  you  do,  and 
j.  insist — nay,  command  you  to  give  up  going  there.  Do  you 
hear?  I  have  a  right  to  demand  it!" 

"  Yes,  I  hear,  but  nevertheless  I  shall  go  on  doing  what  my 
own  judgment  tells  me  there  is  no  harm  in,"  replied  Kathe, 
firmly  and  quietly,  while  she  wrenched  her  arm  from  Flora's 

frasp.     "  Your  right,  which  you  use  so  badly,  I  do  not  ac- 
nowledge  as  having  power  over  me,  and — " 

"No,  of  course  not,"  broke  in  Henriette,  with  glowing 
cheeks  and  flashing  eyes. 

"  And  I  will  not  submit  to  it,"  continued  Kathe.  "  If  you 
imagine  that  there  is  treachery  in  every  act  of  those  around 
you  it  is  a  sure  sign  that  you  feel  your  own  power  is  on  the 
wane. " 

*  "On  the  wane?"  replied  Flora,  scornfully,  and  clasping  her 
hands  in  pretended  amusement.  "  My  dear  little  woman,  my 
wisest  of  all  moralizers,  you  make  a  slight  mistake  there.  A 
passionate  affection  such  as  I  have  had  cause  to  test  severely 
in  my  lover,  and  which  has  only  grown  more  intense  in  the 
trial,  could  never  now  be  influenced  by  any  one.  My  power  is 
now,  as  ever,  intact." 

"  Very  unfortunate  it  is,  too!"  murmured  Henriette,  angrily, 
to  herself,  adding,  somewhat  louder :  "  I  am  constantly  obliged 
to  recall  to  my  mind  Doctor  Brack's  former  firmness  of  pur- 
pose in  all  his  actions  not  to  call  him  an  imbecile!" 

"It  is  only  a  question  now  of  the  time  between  this  and 
September,"  continued  Flora,  merely  noticing  Henriette's  re- 
mark by  a  sarcastic  shrug  of  her  shoulders,  "  and  I  regard  the 
matter  as  an  act  of  policy  on  my  side  toward  the  old  lady,  for 
I  have  no  wish  to  vex  her  naturally.  When  we  are  settled  in 
Leipsic  all  that  will  be  changed,  of  course,  and  Leo  will  soon 
recognize  that  the  kind  of  wife  his  aunt  would  have  chosen  for 
him  would  not  only  be  a  burden,  but  a  drag  to  him.  He  will 
only  fully  understand  my  value  when  he  sees  his  drawing-room 
frequented  by  people  of  good  birth,  \vho  will  consider  it  an 
honor  to  visit  us,  owing  to  his  brilliant  position  and  my  being 
at  the  head  of  his  house;  and  when  he  sees  me  filling  my  post 
with  the  ease  and  elegance  natural  to  me,  and  at  the  same 
time  regulating  rny  kitchen  and  nursery  as  becomes  a  sensible 


190  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

wife,  then,  and  then  only,  will  he  be  able  to  judge  of  mj 
worth.  I  have  thought  it  all  over,  and  I  find  that  with  my 
income  I  shall  not  only  be  able  to  dress  elegantly,  but  have  a 
first-rate  cook  and  a  good  nurse  and  governess  if  I  need  them, 
without  touching  one  penny  of  whatever  he  may  allow  me  for 
household  expenses/* 

She  looked  at  her  rosy  finger-tips  as  she  spoke  and  then 
jlowly  raised  her  head  with  a  haughty  gesture  and  gazed  at  her 
reflection  in  the  large  mirror  which  reached  from  floor  to  ceil- 
jig.  It  was  the  face  of  a  lovely  woman,  certainly,  which  met 
her  gaze,  but  somehow  not  one  whom  involuntarily  one  asso- 
ciated with  a  helpless  infant  on  her  knee,  or  as  bending  loving- 
ly over  a  sick-bed  and  whispering  gentle  caressing  words  to 
ease  pain,  not  one  whose  natural  place  was  the  nursery,  where 
tiny  arms  would  be  stretched  out  in  loving  welcome  at  her  ap- 
proach, or  rosy  faces  be  held  up  to  be  kissed! 

Presently  her  glance  wandered  from  her  own  face  in  the 
glass  to  Kathe's  white-robed  figure  standing  near  the  blue 
velvet  curtains  dividing  the  rooms,  and  she  could  not  avoid 
noticing  the  fresh  youthful  beauty  of  the  clear  complexion 
and  the  innocent  depths  of  the  truthful  brown  eyes  in  contrast 
to  her  own  more  regularly  beautiful  features,  with  their  worn 
expression  and  anxious,  sharply  defined  outlines.  Perhaps  the 
contrast  vexed  her,  for  she  smiled  spitefully  as  she  nodded  her 
head  at  the  figure  in  the  background,  and  remarked: 

"It  is  all  very  well,  little  one,  but  you  will  soon  lose  that 
violet-like  modesty  of  yours,  and  you  will  no  more  care  for  the 
domestic  duties  and  worries  your  beloved  Lucas  has  taught 
you  to  consider  the  height  of  happiness  than  I  do.  Moriz 
won't  allow  you  to  go  about  the  house  with  bundles  of  keys 
clanging  at  your  side — of  that  you  may  be  quite  sure;  although 
he  may  be  gallant  enough  to  promise  you  a  dozen  times  over  a 
poultry-yard,  you  won't  be  allowed  to  superintend  it  yourself ! 
And  just  because  he  is  a  newly  created  nobleman  he  will  be 
more  particular  about  the  appearance  of  his  wife's  hands  than 
the  oldest  and  noblest  prince  in  the  land." 

Kathe  flushed  like  a  peony,  and  moved  away  from  her  posi- 
tion by  the  curtains,  as  she  asked,  simply  and  wonderingly,  of 
her  elder  half-sister: 

"  What  has  that  to  do  with  me?  Surely  Moriz  can  do  as  he 
likes?" 

"  Flora,  how  can  you  have  so  little  tact  as  to  meddle  with 
Moriz's  affairs  in  any  such  way?"  cried  Henriette,  in  distress, 
vhile  watching  anxiously  the  wondering  look  in  Kathe's  eyes. 

"  Nonsense!  he  ought  to  be  very  much  obliged  to  me  foi 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  191 

smoothing  his  way  for  him.  Besides,  you  know  very  well  that 
I  am  not  referring  to  a  matter  that  Kathe  has  not  known  for 
a  long  time.  Every  girl  above  fifteen  has  that  within  her 
which  instinctively  warns  her  first  and  then  like  an  electric 
shock  assures  her  that  she  has  won  a  man's  heart.  And  those 
who  will  not  acknowledge  it  are  either  absurdly  stupid  or  re- 
fined and  finished  coquettes." 

Again'  she  looked  at  herself  in  the  mirror  and  arranged  the 
hair  on  her  forehead  ere  adding: 

"  All  who  have  eyes  can  see  for  themselves  how  charmingly 
our  little  one  has  succeeded  in  making  herself  pleasant,  and 
how  well  she  has  played  her  part.  You  understand  me,  don't 
you,  Kathe?"  she  asked,  with  an  expressive  smile,  glancing 
under  her  upraised  arm  at  Kathe  as  she  spoke. 

"  No,  I  do  not  understand  you,"  replied  the  young  girl, 
her  breath  coming  and  going  quickly  with  an  undefined  in- 
stinct that  made  her  anxious,  while  she  struggled  hard  to  keep 
down  the  anger  which  Flora's  tone,  more  than  her  words,  had 
provoked. 

"Come,  Kathe,  let  us  go,"  said  Henriette,  throwing  her 
arms  round  her  stronger  sister's  waist  and  leading  her  toward 
the  door.  "  I  will  not  allow  such  treason  to  be  heard  by  you," 
she  added,  stamping  her  foot  with  rage. 

"  Don't  excite  yourself  about  nothing,  Henriette!"  remarked 
Flora,  laughing.  "  Here,  Kathe,  you  had  better  take  your 
jewels  and  not  leave  them  in  the  drawing-room,  where  the 
servants  are  constantly  coming  in  and  going  out." 

But  Kathe  laid  her  hand  with  a  childish  action  behind  her 
as  Flora  thrust  the  case  toward  her. 

"  Moriz  can  take  them  back  again,"  she  replied,  shortly, 
but  firmly.  "Your  grandmamma  is  quite  right,  it  is  not  a 
becoming  present:  such  jewels  have  no  right  to  ornament  my 
neck." 

"  Am  I  really  to  believe  in  such  well-acted  ingenuousness?' 
cried  Flora,  quickly  losing  her  temper.  "  Nonsense,  my  dear; 
such  pretended  affectation  does  not  become  a  strong  robust 
girl  like  you.  There  is  the  lace  shawl  which  Moriz  brought 
for  grandmamma;  it  lies  there  still — why?  because  being  more 
exacting  than  your  sisters — who  thoroughly  understand  how  it 
is  that  a  present  to  you  is  of  ten  times  the  value  of  theirs — she 
scorns  such  a  gift.  And  now  you  pretend  that  you  do  not 
know  why  such  a  costly  etui  is  given  to  you!  Bah!  little  one, 
don't  be  so  absurdly  silly!  Have  you  not  heard  and  seen  the 
alterations  going  on  over  there  in  the  pavilion?  Every  one  in 
the  house,  even  the  lowest  laborer  carrying  hods  of  bricks  up 


192  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

and  down  the  ladder  outside,  is  aware  that  those  alterations 
are  rooms  being  prepared  for  grandmamma's  use,  in  order 
that  the  counselor's  young  wife  may  reign  as  queen  in  these 
magnificent  apartments.  Well,  little  innocent,  must  I  speak 
still  more  plainly?" 

The  young  girl  had  listened  to  this  tirade  with  quick-coming 
breath  and  a  dumb  kind  of  consciousness  that  what  she  said 
was  true,  and  her  eyes  had  a  frightened  distended  look  ir> 
them  as  if  she  were  watching  the  gradual  approach  of  a  danger 
she  had  no  power  to  avert.  But  as  Flora  ceased  speaking  a 
proud  smile  flitted  for  a  second  round  her  pale  lips,  and  she 
said,  bitterly,  the  tones  of  her  voice  ringing  strangely  hard  and 
metallic-like  in  their  sound: 

"  You  may  spare  yourself  the  trouble;  I  quite  understand 
you  at  last.  You  have  even  more  courage  than  your  grand- 
mother in  causing  any  further  stay  in  this  house  impossible  on 
my  part. " 

"Kathe!"  cried  Henriette.  "No,  no,  you  are  making  a 
mistake.  Flora  has  been  terribly  thoughtless,  and  wanting  in 
tact,  as  usual;  but  in  this  matter  she  intended  no  such  allu- 
sions, I  assure  you.  Did  you,  Flora?"  Then  clinging  closer 
to  Kathe,  and  looking  piteously  up  in  her  face,  she  went  on,  in 
a  half-angry,  half -tremulous  voice:  "  Why  need  any  such  silly 
remarks  drive  you  away,  Kathe?  She  only  said  it  to  tease 
you.  Have  you  really  been  so  unconscious  of  the  existence  of 
the  love  Moriz  has  shown  you  so  plainly  on  every  opportunity? 
Now,  listen;  I  have  over  and  over  again  wished  to  die — I  do  so 
still;  but  if  I  thought  it  possible  that  you  would  some  day  be 
mistress  here  in  our  old  paternal  home,  why  then — then — 

Kathe  suddenly  wrenched  herself  free  from  the  soft  en- 
circling arms,  and  tossing  back  her  head,  her  eyes  flashing 
scorn,  anger  and  wounded  pride,  while  her  whole  girlish  figure 
seemed  to  dilate  with  passion,  she  cried: 

"  Never!  never!" 

"Ah!  never,  you  say!"  said  Flora,  sarcastically.  "Pray, 
then,  is  the  match  not  grand  enough  for  you,  or  what  is  it? 
Are  you  waiting  for  a  ruined  count,  or  perhaps  a  prince,  to 
come  and  pluck  the  rose  from  the  bush  and  wear  it  in  his  heart 
forever?  Only  remember  that  out  of  the  fairy  books  in  real  life 
such  things  are  only  done  for  the  sake  of  the  golden  fortune 
accompanying  the  rose,  not  for  the  rose  itself.  Such  mar- 
riages are  common  enough  nowadays,  though  every  one  knows 
exactly  what  becomes  of  the  unfortunate  wife.  If  you  wish  to 
be  constantly  reminded  that  your  grandfather  followed  the 
plow,  and  that  your  grandmother  ran  about  barefooted,  then 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  19$ 

marry  into  a  family  of  proud  descent  by  all  means!  Any  way, 
I  should  really  like  to  know  what  you  have  against  Moriz,  or 
rather  why  you  treat  the  idea  of  marrying  him  so  scornfully. 
You  are  certainly  very  rich,  but  we  all  know  how  you  got  your 
money.  You  are  young  and  fresh  looking,  but  you  are  not 
beautiful,  my  dear;  and  as  to  your  musical  talents,  which  you 
know  how  to  display  on  fitting  occasions  and  make  the  most 
of,  they  have  been  greatly  exaggerated  by  your  well-paid  mas- 
ters, who,  the  moment  they  lose  their  reward,  will  soon  cease 
to  praise  you." 

"  Flora,  how  can  you?"  exclaimed  Henriette. 

"  Silence,  child!"  Flora  went  on,  putting  the  little  invalid 
aside  with  a  strong  hand.  "  I  am  speaking  to  you  for  your 
good,  Kathe.  Do  you  want  Moriz  to  be  more  passionately  in 
love  with  you  than  he  is?  My  dear  girl,  he  is  no  longer  a 
young  man  anxious  to  be  the  hero  of  some  girlish  romance. 
The  chief  question  with  you  ought  to  be :  Would  you  ever  be 
chosen  for  yourself  alone? — one  can  never  tell  in  the  case  of  an 
heiress  how  it  might  have  been.  I  don't  understand  you;  up 
till  "now  it  has  pleased  you  to  play  the  part  of  a  watchful  nurse 
to  an  extent  that  few  old  maids  would  have  willingly  done,  just 
because  no  one  especially  wished  you  to  do  it;  and  now  that 
Henriette's  whole  future  well-being  seems  to  depend  on  your 
staying  in  the  house,  you  declare  your  intention  of  going  away. 
For  my  part  I  shall  be  much  more  at  ease,  when  I  leave  here., 
to  know  that  Henriette  is  under  your  kind  hands;  and  Leo, 
too,  will  be  glad;  yet  you  must  have  seen  how  very  little  he 
cares  about  you;  he  would  rather,  as  you  heard  just  now,  have 
that  spoiled,  ill-tempered  little  wretch,  Job  Brandau,  to  plague 
him  from  morning  to  night  than  have  you  in  his  house,  though, 
of  course,  he  is  very  anxious  about  the  welfare  of  his  patient; 
and,  as  she  is  so  fond  of  you,  he  wo  aid  like  you  to  stay  with 
her  when  he  leaves  here  for  Leipsic. " 

Henriette  did  not  say  a  word,  but  stood  leaning  her  hot 
cheek  against  the  wall,  her  mouth  quivering  with  pain  at  the 
cruel,  bitter  tone  of  her  elder  sister's  remarks  to  Kathe. 

Kathe,  however,  on  her  part,  had  quite  recovered  her  equa- 
nimity, and  without  taking  the  slightest  notice  of  Flora,  she 
said  to  Henriette,  quietly: 

"You  and  I  know  best  about  that;  don't  we,  dear  Hen- 
riette?" but  the  lips  she  pressed  tenderly  against  the  invalid 
girl's  cheek  were  hot  and  trembling,  and  her  hands  were  cold 
as  ice,  as  she  added:  "  You  must  go  to  your  room  now,  dar- 
ling, and  lie  down  after  taking  your  medicine.  I  shall  soon  be 

7 


194  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

back — I  won't  be  away  for  long/'  and  without  so  much  as  a 
glance  at  Flora  she  turned  and  left  the  room. 

"  Conceited  girl!  I  believe  she  is  in  a  rage  because  I  do  not 
think  her  a  beauty,  and  tbat  men  like  Leo  Bruck  do  not  fall 
down  and  worship  her/'  remarked  Flora,  with  a  sarcastic  curl 
of  her  mouth  as  the  door  closed  on  Kathe's  retreating  figure; 
and  while  Henriette  silently  took  up  her  own  pretty  delicate 
present,  and  closing  the  necklace-case,  carried  it  away  with 
her  to  her  own  apartments,  Flora  began  humming  an  opera 
melody.  Crossing  the  corridor,  she  knocked  without  hesita- 
tion at  the  door  of  the  room  where  Moriz  and  Dr.  Bruck  were 
talking,  and  said,  gayly,  as  she  put  her  head  inside: 

"  What  an  ungallant  pair  you  are  to  leave  me  all  alone  on 
my  birthday!" 


PART  III. 


CHAPTER  I. 

KATHE  wandered  for  a  time  aimlessly  about  the  park  in 
order  to  calm  her  agitated  feelings  before  presenting  herself  to 
the  scrutinizing  eyes  of  the  old  lady  in  the  house  by  the  river- 
side. She  had  no  wish  for  "  Auntie  Diakonus  "  to  see  her  in 
her  present  excited  state,  for  she  knew  that  she  would  question 
her  so  closely  as  to  the  cause  of  her  unhappiness  that  there 
would  be  no  possibility  of  escaping  from  the  kind  sympathy 
that  would  be  shown  her  but  by  confessing  the  conversation 
she  had  just  had  with  Flora;  and  perhaps  her  old  friend  would 
also  think  that  it  would  be  best  for  her  to  marry  the  counselor! 
They  had  all — Flora,  Henriette,  and  the  doctor — agreed  that 
she  ought  to  do  it,  but  she  would  resist  to  the  end.  They 
were  each  and  all  selfish,  but  she  would  not  allow  herself  to  be 
caught  in  any  such  golden  net. 

In  anger  and  bitterness  she  stood  still  for  awhile  and  gazed 
at  the  ruin  in  front  of  her.  She  was  tired,  and  had  wandered 
round  on  this  side  of  the  park  without  taking  any  heed  to  the 
direction  in  which  she  was  going. 

The  sun  was  fast  traveling  westward,  and  shining  with 
broad,  purple,  and  golden  tints  on  the  dark  background  of  the 
forest,  and  lighting  the  tiny  waves  of  the  stream  around  the 
ruin  with  gleaming,  changing  colors.  The  huge  form  of  the 
tower  rose  like  a  black  marble  monument  from  the  midst  of 


m  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  195 

the  Irughing  valley,  and  at  the  side  stood  the  thick  group  of 
nut-trees  through  the  branches  of  which  scarce  a  gleam  of  day- 
light could  penetrate. 

The  young  girl  glanced  across  the  flowing  stream  to  one  of 
the  windows  of  the  dark  tower  with  a  frown  on  her  brow  and 
an  angry  expression  about  her  mouth.  Inside  that  room  stood 
the  famous  iron  safe  containing  her  fortune,  which  up  to  to- 
day she  had  been  rather  afraid  of,  but  which,  now  as  she  stood 
there  gazing  gloomily  at  the  glowering  tower,  she  hated  as  the 
innocent  cause  of  all  her  troubles.  That  square  iron  chest  was 
to  take  the  place  of  the  warmest  feelings  of  her  heart — around 
it  all  the  wishes  and  longings  of  her  life  ^rere  to  be  centered. 
Whoever  told  her  that  he  loved  her,  she  would  know  that  he 
loved  her  iron  box  better.  Every  kindly  look,  each  warm 
pressure  of  the  hand  would  only  mean  that  she  was  the  owner 
of  sums  of  money  that  were  daily  increasing  in  every  corner  of 
the  globe.  Even  the  rich  and  noble  Counselor  Romer,  her 
guardian,  wished  to  be  richer  still,  and  to  possess,  as  his  own, 
her  large  fortune.  All  this  her  half-sister  Flora  had  insinuat- 
ed, and  in  so  doing  had  wounded  the  young  girl  to  the  inner- 
most depth  of  her  soul. 

Kathe  presently  noticed  that  underneath,  in  the  cellars  of 
the  towers,  one  of  the  swing  windows  was  partially  open.  In- 
side that  window  she  knew  that  the  rich  man  kept  his  old  and 
costly  wine.  Only  a  few  days  before,  she  had  accompanied 
Mme.  Urach  and  her  half-sisters,  under  the  guidance  of  her 
guardian,  to  see  the  new  consignment  of  rich  wine  that  had 
been  ordered  on  one  of  his  journeys  to  the  capital,  and  had 
lately  arrived  and  been  placed  in  the  immense  vaults  which 
formed  the  foundation  of  the  grand  old  ruin.  She  had  felt 
the  cold  air  fan  her  cheeks,  had  enjoyed  the  earthy  odor  which 
met  her  as  she  descended  the  beautifully  clean  steps  leading  to 
the  vaults.  She  had  wondered  at  the  exquisite  neatness  and 
cleanliness  all  around  her  when  she  reached  the  vast  caves;  not 
a  cobweb  crossed  the  roof  or  hung  to  the  sides  of  the  stone  jut- 
tings.  In  a  room  adjoining  the  vaults,  where  all  the  glasses 
and  decanters  were  kept,  every  article  glittered  and  shone  as 
bright  and  clear  as  when  they  were  on  the  table  in  the  dining- 
room.  And  then  in  the  vault  where  the  rarest  and  oldest  wine 
was  kept,  stood  the  two  famous  tons  of  gunpowder  looking  so 
fresh  and  new  that  Kathe  had  laughingly  remarked  that  they 
seemed  to  grow  younger  as  the  wine  grew  older,  and  that  most 
likely  they  were  touched  up  from  time  to  time  like  the  re- 
nowned spot  on  the  Wartburg.  But  she  did  not  like  this  cor- 
$or,  and  was  glad  to  get  away  from  it,  and  wondered  involun- 


196  IN    THE    COUNSELORS    HOUSE. 

tarily  how  her  guardian  could  sleep  peacefully  with  such  c 
dangerous  enemy  so  close  beneath  his  apartments. 

Presently  Kathe  turned  away  and  hurried  back  through  the 
park  in  the  direction  of  the  house  by  the  river.  Several  deer 
sprung  across  her  path  and  gamboled  around  her,  but  to-day 
she  had  no  bread  in  her  pocket  to  give  them,  and  she  waved 
them  away  with  her  hand.  She  hurried  on  and  soon  reached 
ihe  other  turn  of  the  stream,  where  she  could  easily  distinguish 
T,he  joyous  shouts  of  children  at  play  above  the  rush  of  the 
waters.  Evidently  the  little  pupils  were  romping  in  the  gar- 
den, and  as  the  sound  of  their  voices  reached  her  ears  a  warm 
happy  feeling  took  possession  of  Kathe 's  heart,  and  helped  to 
banish  a  great  portion  of  the  pain  which  had  been  weighing 
her  down  for  the  last  hour.  These  little  creatures,  with  their 
ringing  laughter  and  innocent  eyes,  knew  nothing  about  strong- 
boxes. They  did  not  love  her  because  she  was  an  heiress,  but 
accepted  thankfully  and  without  questioning  the  sweet  fruit 
and  bread  she  gave  them,  whenever  they  assembled  together 
for  their  working  lesson.  They  regarded  her  in  'no  other  light 
than  as  a  kind  kentle  lady,  to  whom  they  could  pour  out  their 
childish  griefs,  while  feeling  assured  that  sympathy  would  be 
given  them  in  return,  or  whom  they  could  challenge  to  a  game 
of  play  in  answer  to  her  winsome  smile.  No,  they  loved  her 
for  herself,  and  not  for  the  gold  her  grandfather  had  left  her. 

When  Kathe  crossed  the  bridge  she  could  not  see  the  chil- 
dren as  they  were  playing  in  the  garden  behind  the  house;  but 
she  met  the  maid  carrying  a  basket  on  her  arm,  on  her  way 
into  town  to  purchase  the  evening  provisions.  She,  too,  had  a 
great  affection  for  Kathe,  and  dropped  her  a  courtesy  and 
smiled  a  pleasant  welcome  to  the  young  girl  in  answer  to  her 
gentle  "good-afternoon." 

The  hall  door  stood  wide  open.  Kathe  slowly  mounted  the 
steps,  intending  to  enter  the  house  and  find  her  way  to 
"  auntie's  "  room,  without  taking  the  trouble  to  announce  her 
presence  by  ringing  at  the  bell,  as  she  knew  the  servant  was 
out.  But  suddenly  her  feet  stood  still,  for  the  doctor's  voice 
was  saying: 

"  No,  aunt,  it  is  the  noise  that  bothers  me — my  head  achea 
with  it.  When  I  do  come  here  to  give  myself  a  little  break  in 
my  work,  I  must  have  rest — complete  rest.  I  need  it,  indeed 
I  do,"  he  added,  in  a  tone  of  impatience,  almost  querulous  in 
its  sound;  "  I  know  I  am  asking  a  great  sacrifice  at  your 
hands,  aunt,  but  still  I  do  ask  you  to  give  up  these  working 
afternoons  during  the  remaining  few  months  I  may  be  coin- 
ing here  to  and  fro.  During  these  months  I  will  willingly  hire 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  197 

a  room  In  town,  and  engage  a  teacher  to  take  your  place,  BO 
that  the  little  ones  need  not  be  neglected,  but — " 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  don't  talk  like  that,  Leo,"  interrupt- 
ed his  aunt,  quickly;  "  I  had  no  idea  that  this  plan  of  mine 
was  disagreeable  to  you.  Not  a  sound  shall  disturb  you  again; 
trust  me,  dear  boy;  I  will  give  it  up.  There  is  only  one  re- 
gret I  have  in  the  matter,  Kathe — " 

11  Always  that  girl!"  exclaimed  the  doctor  under  his  breath, 
as  if  his  patience  was  beyond  control,  and  he  was  too  weary  to 
conceal  the  irritated  state  of  his  feelings;  "  you  never  think  of 
me  now." 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Leo?  "What  do  you  mean? 
You  surely  are  not  jealous  of  the  love  and  affection  of  your  old 
aunt!"  exclaimed  the  elderly  lady,  half  anxiously  and  half 
laughing.  He  did  not  reply;  and  the  young  girl,  standing  out- 
side on  the  doorstep,  as  if  glued  to  the  spot  and  quite  unable 
to  move,  heard  him  begin  slowly  to  pace  the  floor. 

"  Poor  little  Kathe!  I  can  scarcely  believe  it  possible  that 
there  exists  a  being  who  could  object  to  such  a  sweet,  innocent 
young  creature's  presence,"  the  old  lady  went  on,  following 
her,  nephew  with  her  light  footsteps;  "  I  have  never  known  a 
girl  who  possesses  so  much  sweetness  of  disposition  and  purity 
of  mind,  mingled  with  such  firm  determination  of  character 
and  true  womanly  instincts,  as  my  little  friend  Kathe.  I  am 
very  much  attached  to  her,  for  I  know  her  worth;  but  I  did 
not  think  that  you  would  ever  become  so  unjust,  Leo,  as  not 
to  be  able  to  endure  the  presence  of  any  other  girl  by  the  side 
of  your  superbly  beautiful  lady-love." 

Kathe  started  and  trembled  as  she  heard  the  doctor's  loud 
sarcastic  laugh  ringing  through  the  open  window.  She  invol- 
untarily turned  to  fleej  but  a  second  later  she  made  up  her 
mind  to  remain  where  she  was,  and  to  hear  how  he  replied  to 
his  aunt's  well-meant  but  unlucky  speech.  Her  cheeks  burned 
with  shame,  but  she  did  not  move. 

"  As  a  rule,  aunt,  you  are  a  clear-headed,  far-seeing  woman, 
but  in  this  instance  you  have  failed  to  judge  rightly,"  he  said, 
as  he  laughed  again  a  bitter  short  laugh;  "  I  won't  try  to  un- 
deceive you — who  likes  to  strike  himself  in  the  face?  I  have 
only  one  thing  to  beg  of  you,  and  that  is,  that  you  will  return 
to  our  old  habits  of  being  with  each  other,  while  I  remain  here 
— that  is,  we  will  always  be  alone.  Formerly,  you  were  happy 
enough  without  the  society  of  any  young  lady;  try  and  be  so 
still,  aunt,  for  I  will  not  have  one  coming  and  going  while  1 
am  here. " 

"  Not  even  Kathe?" 


198  i»  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

A  sharp  rather  dull  sound,  and  a  general  shaking  of  fur- 
niture, left  Kathe  no  doubt  that  this  question  had  been  met 
vith  an  angry  stamp  of  the  foot. 

"Aunt,  shall  I  be  forced  into — "  he  cried,  bitterly,  his 
voice  scarcely  recognizable. 

"  Do  as  you  will,  Leo,  my  boy,"  interrupted  his  aunt, 
startled  and  wondering  at  her  nephew's  strange  humor;  "  you 
shall  have  your  own  way.  I  will  manage  as  well  as  I  can  t(> 
make  the  banishment  as  little  painful  to  the  child  as  possible 
— but  good  heavens!  Leo,  how  excited  you  look,  and  your 
hands  are  feverish — you  must  be  ill — you  are  working  too 
hard.  Ah,  well!  dear  boy,  you  shall  be  quiet  enough  here,  de- 
pend upon  that.  Let  me  get  you  a  glass  of  lemonade?" 

"  No,  thank  you/'  he  answered,  quietly,  as  he  opened  the 
door.  Kathe  heard  his  aunt  cross  over  to  the  kitchen,  and  a 
moment  or  two  later  the  doctor  himself  appeared  on  the  broad 
doorstep. 


CHAPTER    II. 

NOT  a  couple  of  yards  away,  Kathe  was  leaning  against  the 
wall,  her  face  pale  as  ashes,  her  teeth  clinched  together,  and 
her  eyes  staring  vacantly  before  her;  she  was  determined  not 
to  see  the  doctor  as  he  came  out. 

He  started  as  he  caught  sight  of  her,  and  for  a  moment 
seemed  too  speechless  to  utter  a  sound. 

"  Kathe!"  he  presently  exclaimed  in  a  low  voice,  which 
trembled  as  in  one  awakening  from  a  dream. 

She  drew  herself  together  and  shuddered ;  then  slowly  walked 
a  few  steps  away  from  the  wall  against  which  she  had  been 
leaning,  and  when  she  reached  the  center  of  the  gravel  path- 
way she  asked: 

"  What  do  you  want,  Herr  Doctor?" 

Her  whole  movement  was  like  an  automaton;  even  as  she 
slightly  turned  her  head  over  her  shoulder,  it  seemed  as  if  she 
did  it  mechanically;  and,  but  for  the  earnest  flashing  expres- 
oion  of  her  eyes,  one  might  have  imagined  she  was  in  a  sleep. 

The  young  man  flushed  like  a  girl  as  he  went  nearer  to  her 
and  asked,  doubtingly: 
'  You  have  heard?" 

'  Yes,"  she  said  abruptly,  with  a  bitter  laugh,  "  every  word 
you  uttered;  and  I  was  struck  with  the  good  sense  you  evinced 
in  banishing  from  your  house  all  strange  intruders;  tl:e  walls 
ears;"  and  she  moved  still  further  away,  as  if  she  wished 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  199 

to  put  as  much  space  as  possible  between  her  and  the  threshold 
over  which  she  was  never  again  to  pass., 

In  the  meantime  he  had  recovered  himself,  jmd  now  strode 
forward  to  a  garden  table  on  which  he  flung  down  his  hat,  and 
drawing  up  his  tall  figure  to  its  full  height  looked  straight  at 
Kathe  with  an  expression  in  his  face  which  seemed  to  say  that 
he  was. glad  that  chance  had  given  him  this  opportunity,  and 
that  through  no  seeking  of  his  own;  he  seemed  to  breathe 
freely  as  with  a  slight  gesture  he  motioned  to  her  to  stand 
still. 

"  Fear  of  being  overheard  had  no  part  in  what  I  was  saying 
to  my  aunt.  Tin's  quiet  house  has  no  secret  within  its  walls; 
and  what  one  shuts  up  within  one's  breast  has  no  need  to  fear 
being  overheard/'  he  began  with  quiet  earnestness.  "  You 
have  overheard  what  I  was  saying,  hence  you  know  that  for  a 
time  at  least  I  am  anxious  to  be  as  much  alone  as  possible.  I 
am  sorry  to  have  to  confess  that  I  am  so  selfish;  I  know  that 
you  will  scarcely  understand  me  if  I  tell  you  that  there  are 
times  when  one's  own  thoughts  are  a  curse,  or  perhaps  it  will 
b$  easier  for  you  to  comprehend  the  pain  and  agony  it  might 
be  to  drive  those  away  from  one's  presence  who  could  make 
home  sweetest,  and  to  have  to  flee  from  the  one  of  all  others 
one  longs  most  to  see. " 

She  looked  at  him  with  her  honest,  brave  eyes  and  saw  that 
he  was  in  earnest,  saw  that  he  was  speaking  of  himself,  of  his 
own  pain  and  agony,  that  was  only  too  visibly  portrayed  in  his 
white  face  and  drawn,  quivering  lips;  yet  what  could  he  mean? 

He  certainly  did  not  flee  the  presence  of  his  betrothed  wife, 
the  children  at  play  behind  the  house  had  nothing  to  do  with 
such  painful  emotions,  so  who  could  it  be?  There  was  no  one 
else  but  herself — and  herself?  Ah,  yes!  she  had  involuntarily 
witnessed  two  or  three  painful  scenes  between  him  and  Flora, 
and  he  did  not  like  to  be  reminded  of  them,  so  he  made  the 
noise  of  the  pupils  an  excuse  to  get  rid  of  her  presence  about 
the  house.  And  as  these  thoughts  rushed  rapidly  through  her 
mind,  her  features  assumed  a  fixed,  incredulous  expression, 
and  she  answered,  coldly: 

'  There  is  no  necessity  for  you  to  give  any  reason  for  your 
actions,  Doctor  Bruck.  You  are  master  here,  and  of  course 
can  do  as  you  please.  But  what  a  great  amount  of  interest 
you  must  take  in  the  old  Baroness  von  Steiner,  to  sacrifice 
your  love  of  quiet  to  her  unruly  grandson  and  nursery  govern- 
ess. You  offered  to  have  both  in  your  house  for  several 
weeks!" 

It  was  a  hard  thrust  for  the  young  man,  but  sarcastically 


200  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

as  the  words  were  uttered,  the  girl  herself  had  no  idea  of  the 
sharpness  of  the  wound  she  was  inflicting  by  her  bitter  words. 

"  No,  no,  say  nothing,  not  a  word,  I  beg,"  she  went  on, 
passionately  drawing  nearer  to  him,  and  stretching  out  her 
hand  imploringly  as  he  opened  his  lips  to  speak.  "  I  don't 
want  you  to  give  me  a  polite  excuse,  and  say  a  word  contrary 
to  what  you  think.  Do  you  imagine  I  do  not  know  the  real 
cause  for  this  conduct  of  yours?"  She  gulped  down  the  angry 
tears  that  were  rising  in  her  eyes,  but  her  face  flushed  as  she  con- 
tinued, after  a  second  pause:  "  I  have  once  or  twice  unfortunate- 
ly crossed  your  path  at  a  time  when  you  would  have  preferred 
being  quiet  by  yourself,  and  I  can  thoroughly  appreciate  the 
bitterness  of  your  remark  just  now  when  you  exclaimed,  '  Al- 
ways that  girl!'  I  have  not  forgiven  myself  for  my  awkward- 
ness, though  it  was  only  on  one  occasion  that  I  willingly  med- 
dled in  your  affairs."  Again  her  face  flushed  painfully.  "  But 
you  seem  determined  not  to  forgive  me,  and  you  resent  it  still 
without  any  mercy. " 

The  young  man  made  no  reply,  but  closed  his  lips  with  a 
determined  expression  as  if  to  prevent  being  tempted  into  open- 
ing them.  He  gazed  down  at  the  girl  by  his  side  with  a 
strange  impassioned  earnestness  in  his  eyes,  and  clinched  the 
hand  which  rested  on  the  garden  table,  till  the  knuckles 
seemed  to  start  from  their  sockets.  Every  line  of  his  hand- 
some face  and  the  attitude  of  his  whole  body  betrayed  the 
secret  of  the  man's  character,  that  reserve  and  strong  power 
over  self  which  rarely  failed  him,  however  trying  the  circum- 
stance might  be. 

"  It  was  greatly  against  my  inclinations  that  I  returned  here 
at  all,"  Kathe  went  on,  after  a  rapid  glance  at  her  compan- 
ion's grave  countenance.  "  The  old  lady  there,"  she  pointed 
in  the  direction  of  the  villa,  "  poisoned  my  childish  happiness 
by  her  cold  pride  and  heartlessness;  and  the  bitter  tears  she 
made  my  dear,  kind  governess  shed  by  her  impertinent  man- 
ners to  her  I  can  never  forgive  or  forget.  You,  yourself,  were 
a  witness  to  the  cold  reception  I  had  from  my  proud  half-sis- 
ter when  I  first  arrived,  a  reception  which  made  me  long  to 
turn  my  back  on  the  villa  and  take  the  first  train  home  again 
to  Dresden.  Would  that  I  had  done  it,  too!"  she  added,  with 
a  strange  pathos  in  her  voice.  "  Added  to  all  the  puffed-up 
pride  of  position  there  is  that  horrid  unbearable  haughtiness  of 
riches  which  seems  to  pervade  the  very  furniture  and  air  of 
the  villa,"  the  girl  went  on,  "  and  which  hinders  every  ex- 
pression of  feeling  and  naturalness.  My  whole  heart  and  soul 
rebel  against  living  in  such  an  atmosphere.  And  then 


IK    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  201 

kere  I  found  it  so  home-like" — she  stretched  out  her  arm  to- 
ward the  old-fashioned  house  and  garden,  and  her  face  softened 
with  a  sweet  yearning  look — ' '  here  I  could  have  forgotten  my 
Dresden  home,  but  why,  I  know  not  myself."  Then  her 
eyes  brightened  and  her  countenance  glowed  with  inward 
emotion,  as  she  went  on  again  after  a  pause,  "  I  think  your 
dear  old  aunt  has  bewitched  me.  Her  noble,  simple  appea*r- 
ance  is  an  incentive  in  itself  to  try  and  imitate  her  peaceful 
life.  She  does  me  good,  and  soothes  and  comforts  me  when  I 
am  perplexed  and  in  difficulty.  She  goes  about  her  work  from 
morning  till  night  so  gently  and  noiselessly,  and  although  one 
rarely  hears  a  reproof  from  her  lips,  never  a  harsh  word,  she 
still  does  more  good  by  her  example  than  anyone  I  know;  and 
whatever  she  thinks  right  she  does,  no  matter  if  it  is  for  or 
against  the  world's  opinion.  You  can't  tell  how  pleasant  this 
is  in  contrast  to  the  spirit  of  the  people  at  the  villa,  where 
everything  is  sacrificed  for  society  and  appearance,  even  to 
truth  and  honorable  dealing."  And  as  she  finished  speaking 
Kathe  knit  her  brows  together  and  flung  away,  with  an  impa- 
tient gesture,  a  tiny  branch  of  blossom  she  had  snatched  from 
a  bush  at  her  side  and  broken  into  several  pieces. 

This  movement  seemed  to  rouse  the  silent  man  before  her 
into  life.  A  flush  mounted  to  his  forehead  and  his  eyes  flashed. 

"  You  have  forgotten  one  virtue,  my  aunt,  the  '  dear,  kind 
old  lady/  possesses,  and  that  is  mildness  in  judgment/'  he 
said  abruptly  and  sharply.  "  Never  would  she  condemn 
another  in  the  way  you  have  just  done,  because  she  knows  how 
easy  it  is  to  misunderstand  another's  motives  for  actions,  and 
how  possible  it  is  to  err  in  our  judgment  or  to  be  mistaken  in 
our  own  strength  and  power  to  do  right." 

He  spoke  sternly  and  with  more  excitement  in  his  manner 
than  Kathe  had  ever  noticed  before;  he  seemed  to  forget  his 
habitual  reserve  and  to  be  eager  only  to  prove  her  in  the 
wrong.  Although  she  drooped  her  eyelids  till  their  long  lashes 
touched  her  hot  cheeks,  Kathe  felt  she  was  right  and  that  he 
was  weak  as  water  in  his  love  for  her  beautiful  sister.  His 
aversion  to  herself  was  unaccountable;  but  for  this,  she  felt 
she  must  to  a  large  extent  blame,  not  him,  but  herself.  With 
this  comforting  thought  she  raised  her  eyes  and  threw  back 
her  head,  and  was  about  to  speak  when  she  was  interrupted  by 
the  appearance  of  the  children. 

They  had  turned  the  corner  of  the  house,  in  search  of  one  of 
their  companions,  when  they  caught  sight  of  Kathe,  and  a 
moment  later  they  sprung  around  her,  shouting  with  glee  and 
delight  at  her  arrival.  They  took  no  notice  of  the  stern, 


202  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

f rave-looking  man  standing  near  her,  but  nestled  close  to  their 
ind  friend,  taking  her  hands,  touching  her  dress,  while  one  or 
two  of  the  little  ones  held  up  their  rosy  mouths  for  the  kiss  she 
had  ever  been  ready  to  bestow. 

Kathe  smiled  on  all  of  them,  but  not  with  her  usual  bright 
•sunny  smile.  The  little  ones,  however,  did  not  observe  any 
change  in  her,  but  pressed  closer  to  her,  till  she  seemed  over- 
whelmed with  their  caresses.  Ere  she  had  time  to  say  a  word 
of  welcome  to  any  of  them,  the  grave  face  of  the  doctor  grew 
graver,  an  angry  impatient  expression  escaped  from  his  lips, 
and  he  ordered  the  children  back  to  their  play-ground  behind 
the  house,  sternly  forbidding  them  to  appear  again  on  this  side 
of  the  garden  till  they  were  called,  or  had  leave  to  come  back. 

They  obeyed  him  at  once  after  an  astonished  glance  in  his 
face,  and  a  moment  later  Kathe  and  he  were  alone  again. 

The  young  girl  bit  her  lip  and  watched  the  retreating  figures 
of  the  children.  When  the  last  one  had  disappeared  behind 
the  stone  jutting,  she  said,  in  a  tone  which  betrayed  a  mixture 
of  anger  and  sorrow: 

"  How  willingly  I  would  go  after  them,  and  comfort  them, 
but  of  course  I  can  not  think  of  returning  one  step  over  the 
ground  I  have  traversed  for  the  last  time. " 

"  You  would  like  to  comfort  them!"  remarked  the  doctor, 
mockingly.  "  Do  you  rank  me  then  now  as  great  a  tyrant  as 
awhile  ago  you  thought  me  weak?  Console  yourself!  children 
carry  their  own  comfort  with  them.  Laughter  and  weeping 
live  side  by  side  within  them.  Listen  to  them  now;  that  does 
not  sound  as  if  they  needed  comforting!"  he  added,  with  a 
fleeting  attempt  at  a  smile,  as  he  pointed  over  his  shoulder  in 
the  direction  whence  came  the  noise.  "  I  would  bet  anything 
that  is  about  me  and  my  harshness.  It  was  for  your  sake  ftiat 
I  drove  the  sheep  back  into  their  pen ;  I  could  not  bear  to  see 
them  pulling  you  about  like  that.  How  can  you  like  it  your- 
self? The  children  are  so  badly  brought  up — " 

"  Because  they  love  me.  Thank  God  they  do,  and  also  that 
I  can  believe  in  them  at  least!"  she  cried  out,  impetuously, 
clasping  her  hands  on  her  bosom.  "  Would  you  have  me  be- 
lieve that  they,  too,  only  care  for  me  for  my  money's  sake,  that 
their  tender  loving  noisy  caresses  are  bestowed  on  me  just  and 
only  because  of  my  immense  fortune?  No,  no,  I  will  not  be- 
lieve it;  I  am  sure  that  they  love  me  for  myself,  and  I  will  not 
let  myself  be  convinced  of  the  contrary.  It  is  of  no  earthly 
use  to  try  to  do  so  even;  I  will  believe  in  the  children!"  she 
cried,  with  a  piteous  attempt  at  a  smile. 

He  stepped  back  in  surprise. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  203 

"  What  a  very  strange  idea — " 

"  Why  strange?  Do  you  think  it  is  so  very  wonderful,  then, 
that  at  last  I  have  been  startled  from  my  childish  dream,  that 
true  warm  feelings  and  noble  aspirations  were  of  value  in  the 
world? — awoke  to  learn  that  such  things,  such  sentiments  were 
of  secondary  importance  where  money  is  concerned?  Is  it 
nothing  to  lose  one's  confidence  in  all  that  is  good,  and  to 
oe  laughed  at  for  distinguishing  between  good  and  bad,  truth 
and  falsehood?  It  is  a  fearful  shock  suddenly  to  discover  that 
all  I  have  hitherto  lived  for  and  believed  in  is  of  no  account 
by  the  side  of  the  hollow  falseness  of  the  world." 

The  young  doctor  silently  turned  his  eyes  from  her  express- 
ive face,  pale  and  worn-looking  with  the  exitement  of  her 
present  state,  but  she  heaved  a  deep  sigh  and  went  on,  passion- 
ately, after  a  slight  pause: 

"  You  asked  me  at  our  very  first  interview  how  I  felt  with 
my  suddenly  acquired  riches;  I  am  only  now  in  a  position  to 
answer  you  that  question  rightly.  It  seems  to  me  as  if  I  had 
been  plunged  into  a  sea  of  gold,  from  whence  no  one  cares  to 
draw  me  for  my  own  sake,  but  only  for  the  sake  of  the  golden 
waves  which  flow  around  me. " 

"  How  came  you  to  have  such  a  very  odd  impression  as 
that?"  asked  the  young  man  in  a  troubled  tone  of  voice. 

"  You  can  ask  me  such  a  question!"  she  replied,  laughing 
bitterly;  "  ask  it  me  when  you  must  know  that  hourly  and 
daily  at  the  villa  I  am  forced  into  recognizing  the  omnipotence 
of  my  wealth,  and  made  to  understand  that  it,  and  it  alone,  is 
the  only  thing  about  me  worth  any  consideration.  In  my  dear 
old  Dresden  home  I  was  often  caressingly  called  the  '  favorite 
of  the  fairies/  but  here  they  tell  me  I  was  petted  and  made 
much  of  because  my  old  Lucas  and  her  kind  husband  knew 
what  I  was  worth  in  gold;  my  masters  exaggerated  the  extent 
of  my  musical  tastes  for  the  sake  of  the  heavy  fees  I  paid 
them,  and  now  my  guardian  makes  love  to  his  ward  because — 
because  of  her  rich  inheritance." 

At  first,  while  speaking,  the  excited  girl  had  gazed  in  front 
of  her  over  the  rolling  water  and  fields  and  meadows,  but  with 
her  last  words  she  looked  him  straight  in  the  face,  and  watched 
him  earnestly  for  a  moment  as  if  anxious  to  understand  why 
he  started  so  violently  and  shivered  visibly. 

"  Is  that  a  fact?"  he  stammered  out  as  he  passed  his  hands 
quickly  over  his  brow.  "  And  does  it  pain  you  so  deeply  that 
Moriz  thinks  thus  of  you?"  he  asked  after  a  momentary  pause. 

His  voice  was  so  broken,  his  look  so  eager  that  she  was  sur- 
prised and  perplexed.- 


204  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

"  It  pains  me  much  more  to  hear  how  every  one  thinks  that 
he  or  she  has  a  right  to  interfere  in  the  matter,"  she  replied, 
drawing  up  her  little  rounded  youthful  figure  to  its  full  height, 
and  unconsciously  assuming  a  maidenly  dignity  of  demeanor 
that  greatly  enhanced  her  beauty.  Then  shaking  her  heac} 
dubiously,  she  went  on,  with  a  bitter  smile  playing  around  her 
lips:  "  Such  a  poor  little  fish  as  I  am,  too!  I  have  as  much  as 
I  can  do  to  keep  myself  from  being  caught  in  the  net  of  selfish- 
ness, or  being  made  into  a  ball  to  be  tossed  from  here  to  there, 
but  I  will  not  allow  it;  no,  I  will  not!"  she  added  with  energy. 
"  And  you  too,  doctor,  you  are  as  bad  as  the  others.  You  also 
belong  to  those  at  the  villa,  who  imagine  that  because  I  am  a 
young  girl  without  any  fixed  natural  home,  that  I  ought  to 
have  all  my  wishes  and  actions  ruled  and  ordered  according  to 
the  caprice  of  those  around  me,  without  staying  to  consider  if 
I  have  any  right  or  inclination  to  conform  to  these  orders. 
You  coolly  banish  me  from  your  aunt's  presence,  and  yet  you 
would  like  to  hang  a  chain  round  my  neck  and  force  me  to  re- 
main at  the  villa.  I  should  like  to  know  very  much  indeed 
why  you  join  in  such  arbitrary  proceedings,  or  rather  no — 
her  lips  quivered  and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears.  "  I  will  ask 
you  with  Henriette,  '  what  have  I  done  that  you  shwi  roe  at 
every  turn?' ' 

She  spoke  clearly,  almost  sharply  in  her  passionate  eager- 
ness, and  forgetful  of  her  lately  assumed  dignity,  bent  her 
head  forward  and  raised  her  tear-dimmed  eyes  to  his. 

"  Silence,  Kathe;  silence!  not  a  word  more!"  he  exclaimed, 
in  a  hoarse  whisper,  seizing  her  left  wrist  so  tightly  that  she 
shrunk  back,  frightened  at  the  vehemence  her  words  had  roused 
in  the  hitherto  stern,  proud,  passive  young  man. 

"  Did  I  not  know  for  certain  that  there  is  not  a  trace  of 
coquetry  or  falseness  in  your  nature,  I  should  be  obliged  to 
think  that  you  were  adopting  the  most  refined  of  all  cruel 
tortures  to  wrench  a  hidden  bitter  secret  from  me,"  and  let- 
ting go  her  haiid  he  muttered,  in  a  thick  voice;  "  but  you  shall 
not;  no,  by  heavens,  you  shall  not!" 

He  crossed  his  arms  on  his  breast  and  moved  a  few  steps 
away  from  her,  then  suddenly  turning  and  facing  the  fright- 
ened girl,  who  seemed  rooted  to  the  spot,  he  said,  quietly: 

"  I,  in  my  turn,  should  like  to  know  to  what  you  refer  by 
saying  that  I  have  fastened  a  chain  round  your  neck  to  keep 
you  at  the  villa.  It  interests  me — may  I  hear  what  you 
mean?"  he  added,  as  he  retraced  his  steps  till  he  again  stood 
in  front  of  her. 

Kathe  blushed  scarlet,  and  for  a  moment  hesitated,  as  a  shy 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOTJSE.  205 

reserved  feeling  made  her  inclined  to  be  silent,  but  a  glance  at 
his  grave  face  reassured  her,  and  she  answered,  gently: 

"  You  wish  me  to  be — become  mistress  at  the  villa,  and — " 

"  I — I?"  he  stared  incredulously  at  her  for  a  moment,  then 
burst  into  a  peal  of  hollow  laughter,  the  same  kind  of  laughter 
whiclj  had  startled  Kathe  so  much  when  he  was  talking  to  his 
aunt.  "Why  do  you  ask  me — me  such  a  question?  Why 
should  I  wish  to  see  you  mistress  at  the  villa?"  he  asked,  forc- 
ing himself  to  be  quiet  and  his  voice  to  be  steady. 

"  Flora  told  me  that  you  were  anxious  that  Henriette  should 
not  be  left  alone/'  she  answered,  with  a  simple  straightfor- 
wardness. "  You  are  pleased  to  be  content  with  the  care  and 
affection  I  naturally  bestow  on  my  poor,  delicate  sister;  and  in 
order  to  assure  to  her  the  same  care  for  the  future,  and  to 
secure  the  counselor's  house — the  old  family  house — as  hers 
forever,  you  think  it  would  be  well — at  least  so  I  am  informed 
— for  me  to  become — my  guardian's  wife." 

"  And  you  believe  that  I  am  at  the  bottom  of  such  an  in- 
^rigue?  Do  you  really  believe  it?  Have  you  forgotten  so  soon 
that  it  is,  or  rather  was,  entirely  against  my  expressed  wish 
that  you  devoted  yourself  to  nursing  your  sister  and  prolonging 
your  visit  at  the  villa?" 

"  Things  have  changed  very  much  since  then,"  she  replied, 
quickly  and  bitterly.  "  You  will  leave  this  in  September  for 
good,  and  I  do  not  see  how,  after  that,  it  can  matter  to  you 
who  comes  and  goes  at  the  villa.  Your  comfort  will  then  no 
longer  be  interfered  with  by  a  person  for  whom  you  have  no 
sympathy — ' 

"  Kathe!"  he  stammered,  under  his  breath. 

"  Well,  doctor?"  she  said,  quietly,  keeping  her  head  erect 
and  looking  him  straight  in  the  face.  "  The  reason  for  such 
an  arrangement  was  plain  enough  for  any  one  who  was  not  as 
blind  as  I  have  been  to  what  was  going  on  around  me,"  she 
added,  in  a  tone  of  voice  as  if  she  had  suddenly  acquired  years 
of  experience  in  worldly  matters.  "  One  can  see  the  reason 
for  it  all,"  she  went  on,  quietly;  but  her  lips  quivered  as  she 
spoke.  "  The  whole  household  arrangements  could  remain  as 
they  are — no  stranger  need  enter  the  family.  Comfort  and 
luxury  would  remain  in  the  villa,  as  also  in  the  apartments  up 
there  in  the  tower;  nothing  need  be  altered — not  even  my  iron 
strong-box  need  be  moved  from  its  place  in  Moriz's  private 
smoking  den!  It  was  all  splendidly  planned — 

"  And  pleased  you  so  much  that  you  do  not  hesitate  for  a 
second  to  remain/'  he  interrupted  eagerly,  his  breath  heaving, 
his  whole  attitude  betokening  angry  impatience,  as  if  he  would 


206  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  Hotisfi. 

greedily  snatch  the  words  from  her  lips  before  they  were 
uttered. 

"  No,  Doctor  Bruck;  you  are  triumphing  over  me  too  soon," 
3he  cried  in  answer,  as  a  sudden  light  broke  over  her  sweet 
face,  and  her  cheeks  grew  a  rosy  red.  "  I  am  obstinate,  and 
do  not  intend  remaining  in  spite  of  these  charming  arrange- 
ments. I  am  going  away — going  to-day  even.  I  came  over 
from  the  villa  awhile  ago  to  bid  farewell  to  your  aunt,  and  to 
tell  her  I  was  going  back  to  Dresden;  and  even  then  I  should 
have  smiled  most  probably  over  your  decree  of  banishment,  if 
it  had  not  pained  me  so  much.  My  sisters  have  only  just 
opened  my  eyes  to  the  '  happiness '  that  was  planned  out  for 
my  future  life.  At  the  moment  I  felt  that  there  was  no  other 
road  for  me  to  take  but  the  one  which  led  straight  from  the 
drawing-room  to  the  railway-station,  and  thence  home  to  Dres- 
den— and  I  should  have  taken  it  had  I  not  remembered  in  time 
that  this  was  the  afternoon  on  which  I  had  promised  your 
aunt  to  help  her  with  the  children,  so  I  came  here  first  to  say 
good-bye.  I  shall  not  be  away  for  very  long,  only  long  enough 
to  convince  Moriz  that  neither  now  nor  in  the  future  will  I 
tolerate  any  other  sentiment  from  him  than  that  of  kindly  in- 
terests in  my  affairs,  and  that  he  neither  can  nor  ever  will  be 
dearer  to  me  than  as  the  kind  guardian  chosen  for  me  by  my 
father,  for  whom  I  have  great  respect,  but  not  one  atom  of 
love." 

Her  bosom  heaved  as  she  spoke,  and  her  face  flushed  to  the 
roots  of  her  hair  with  shame.  But  one  could  see  that,  cost 
what  it  might,  she  was  determined  to  let  the  young  man  stand- 
ing before  her — his  eager  eyes  looking  straight  into  hers  with  a 
searching  glance  that  wrenched  the  truth  from  her  almost  in 
spite  of  herself — to  let  him  know  that  whatever  plans  had  been 
made  for  her  in  reference  to  the  counselor,  she,  at  least,  had 
no  intention  of  carrying  them  out,  and  that  as  far  as  her  feel- 
ings for  her  guardian  were  concerned,  she  was  heart-whole. 

"  Since  that  day  when  we  carried  Henriette  into  your  house, 
Herr  Doctor,  a  warm  affection  has  sprung  up  on  her  side  for 
your  aunt,"  Kathe  continued,  avoiding  his  eyes  as  much  as 
she  could.  "  I  was  very  glad  of  this;  and  awhile  ago,  when  I 
resolved  to  return  to  Dresden,  I  meant  to  ask  your  aunt  to 
kindly  foster  this  love,  and  allow  Heuriette  to  come  and  see 
her  as  much  as  possible.  But  now  of  course  all  that  is  altered, 
and  she  would  not  dream  of  trespassing  on  ground  from  which 
I  have  been  banished.  I  will  write  to  '  auntie  '  from  Dresden, 
for  I  would  not  go  back  even  those  few  steps/'  and  she  point' 


IN    THE    COUNSELORS    HOUSE.       •  20? 

ed  toward  the  house  with  a  proud  gesture,  "  after  your  ex- 
pressed wish  not  to  be  troubled  with  my  presenca  " 

She  turned  slowly  and  walked  quietly  past  him,  bowing 
slightly  as  she  said: 

?t  Farewell,  Ilerr  Doctor!" 

When  she  reached  the  old  rustic  bridge  she  turned  to  take 
one  last  look  at  the  old  house.  The  children  were  peeping 
round  the  side  of  the  stone  jutting,  with  wonder  and  astonish- 
ment depicted  on  their  bright  little  faces,  scarcely  able  to  be- 
lieve the  evidence  of  their  eyes  when  they  saw  Kathe  move  in 
the  direction  of  the  bridge,  instead  of  joining  them  in  the  gar- 
den, according  to  her  unfailing  habit  hitherto.  They  would 
have  run  over  to  her  and  shouted  out  their  surprise  at  the 
strange  behavior  if  they  had  not  been  in  too  much  awe  of  the 
stern,  tall  gentleman  leaning  against  the  wall.  Kathe's  eyes 
wandered  from  the  house  to  the  spot  she  had  just  left,  and  no 
sooner  did  she  catch  sight  of  the  doctor,  holding  on  to  the  table 
as  if  afraid  of  falling  to  the  earth,  his  face  pale  and  his  eyes 
staring  wildly  before  him,  than  she  sprung  forward,  dashed  like 
lightning  to  his  side,  and,  laying  her  warm  soft  hands  on  his, 
exclaimed,  under  her  breath: 

"  Are  you  ill,  Doctor  Brack?    What  is  the  matter?" 

"  No,  Kathe,  not  ill;  but  weak — weak,  as  you  accused  me 
of  being  just  now,"  he  answered,  wearily,  as  if  waking  from  a 
dream;  and  lifting  his  hand  he  pushed  the  hair  from  his  brow. 
Then  he  added,  roughly  and  suddenly,  bending  toward  her  till 
his  hot  breath  fanned  her  cheek: 

"  Go,  child,  go!  Can't  you  see  how  I  suffer,  and  that  each 
look  of  yours,  each  kindly  word,  stabs  me  to  the  heart?  Go, 
only  go!"  but  ere  she  had  time  to  obey  his  harsh  request  he 
stooped  his  head  and  pressed  his  hot,  burning  lips  in  one  long, 
passionate  kiss  on  the  little  hand  which  lay  on  his. 

The  girl  started  and  turned  pale,  but  her  heart  gave  one 
great  bound  of  joy,  and  a  feeling  of  sweet  tenderness  for  the 
suffering  man  stole  through  her  as  the  words  rose  to  her  lips: 
"  No,  I  will  not  go;  you  need  me  now." 

But  she  checked  them  ere  they  were  uttered,  and  glancing 
for  a  second  at  the  bowed  head  and  the  outstretched  hand 
pointing  so  beseechingly  toward  the  bridge,  she  turned  away 
hurriedly,  and  swift  as  if  an  avenging  angel  were  behind  her,  she 
flew  across  the  meadows  and  under  the  shade  of  the  park  trees, 
not  staying  her  flight  till  she  had  reached  the  close  proximity 
of  the  villa. 

A  few  hours  later,  with  her  face  concealed  behind  a  veil  and 
ft  small  traveling-bag  in  her  hand,  Kuthe  silently  descended  a 


SOS  IN"    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

side  u  *,. ».  ^se  and  left  the  house  as  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
as  she  h'acT arrived. 

Henriette  had  shed  many  bitter  tears,  but  she  had  unhesi- 
tatingly acknowledged  that  perhaps  Kathe  was  right  in  thus 
quitting  the  shelter  of  her  guardian's  roof  for  a  brief  period, 
m  consideration  of  Flora's  great  want  of  tact  when  speaking 
on  the  subject  of  Moriz's  intentions  toward  her.  She  had  also 
agreed  to  Kathe's  plan  of  returning  at  once  to  her  Dresden 
home,  and  from  thence  writing  to  explain  her  wishes,  and  she 
promised  to  announce  her  departure  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
gone  about  an  hour.  She  kissed  Kathe  with  a  convulsive  heav- 
ing of  the  chest,  but  she  helped  her  to  pack  a  few  things 
together,  made  her  drink  a  cup  of  tea,  kissed  her  again,  and 
then  let  her  go,  standing  at  the  top  of  the  winding  staircase  to 
watch  her  exit  from  the  house. 

When  Kathe  reached  the  ground-floor  she  had  to  employ 
some  little  address  to  pass  out  unnoticed.  The  gas  was  burn- 
ing brightly  in  every  corner  of  the  large  outer  hall  and  side 
corridors,  several  footmen  were  loitering  about  assisting  the 
guests,  who  were  now  beginning  to  arrive  in  rapid  succession. 

Once  Kathe  had  to  hide  behind  an  immense  group  of  flower? 
to  avoid  being  seen  by  a  beautifully  dressed  lady  who  stood 
aside  to  arrange  some  fault  in  her  toilet,  and  while  waiting  she 
saw  the  drawing-room  door  open  opposite,  and  Flora,  magnifi- 
cently arrayed  in  pale  rose  color  and  lace,  receiving  the  guests 
assembled  in  her  honor,  with  her  fair  false  face  unclouded  by 
a  single  painful  regret  for  the  mischief  she  had  willfully  and 
wickedly  wrought. 

With  a  deep  sigh  but  a  firm  tread,  Kathe  hurried  across  the 
side  hall  and  out  into  the  park;  and  while  the  maid  upstairs 
was  arranging  her  ball-dress  and  wondering  why  her  young 
lady  did  not  come  to  be  attired  for  the  evening  festivities,  she 
walked  quickly  over  to  the  mill,  knocked  at  Franz's  window, 
and  without  giving  him  a  word  of  explanation,  ordered  him  to 
accompany  her  at  once  to  the  station,  to  catch  the  next  train, 
due  in  half  an  hour,  for  Dresden. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SINCE  then  three  months  have  passed  away,  during  which 
Kathe  gave  herself  up  to  the  study  of  music  with  a  feverish 
passion  and  earnestness  which  she  hoped  would  produce  for- 
getf ulness  and  bring  its  own  reward — a  peaceful  heart.  She 
had  been  kept  informed  of  the  doings  at  the  villa  by  Henriette, 
•who  sent  her  every  week  a  kind  of  diary  which  was  written 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  209 

day  by  day,  but  only  dispatched  to  Dresden  about  twice  a  fort- 
night. Thus  she  had  been  able  to  gather  that  Mme.  TJrach 
had  rather  blessed  Heaven  in  a  graiid  way  for  her  sudden  flight 
from  the  villa,  and  that  Flora  had  merely  shrugged  her  shoul- 
ders and  declared  it  was  just  a  girlish  proceeding  and  one  not 
at  all  to  be  wondered  at  from  such  an  impulsive  young  lady  as 
Kathe.  .  Then,  too,  she  learned  through  the  same  source  that 
Henriette  had  announced  her  abrupt  departure  to  the  coun- 
selor while  quietly  sitting  in  the  music-room;  that  he  grew 
white  and  angry  at  the  news,  and  but  for  the  presence  of  their 
guests  a  terrible  family  quarrel  would  have  ensued;  Flora  had 
happily  averted  it  by  her  cold  indifference  to  family  emotions, 
and  the  fascination  of  manner  she  chose  on  this  occasion  to  dis- 
play, to  hide  their  host's  gloom  and  preoccupation.  Flora's 
lover,  Dr.  Bruck,  had  not  been  able  to  put  in  an  appearance 
at  all  during  the  evening,  in  consequence  of  being  called  away 
to  the  bedside  of  a  patient  dangerously  ill. 

A  day  or  two  following  Kathe 's  arrival  in  Dresden,  she  had 
received  a  letter  from  her  guardian  stating  that  before  the 
month  of  June  was  out  he  would  be  in  Dresden  himself  to 
"demand  an  explanation"  of  her  "strange  conduct."  But 
as  time  rolled  onward,  Henriette's  weekly  dispatch  mentioned 
the  constant  arrival  of  telegrams  from  Berlin,  where  the  coun- 
selor was  staying  on  business,  without  any  immediate  hope  of 
his  being  free  to  travel  as  far  as  Dresden  for  some  time  to 
come.  Thus  the  visit  was  put  off  indefinitely,  and  after 
awhile  even  his  hasty  scrawls  grew  less  and  less,  till  at  last  a 
remittance  reached  her  for  the  first  time  through  the  hands  of 
a  clerk. 

Kathe  breathed  freely  at  last — the  conflict  she  had  so  dread- 
ed was  evidently  not  to  take  place,  and  her  guardian  had 
understood  from  her  letters  that  he  had  nothing  to  hope  for 
either  in  the  present  or  the  future.  Hence  she  now  considered 
that  she  was  at  liberty  to  return  to  the  villa  and  resume  her 
care  of  Henriette.  But  Mme.  Lucas  strenuously  opposed  any 
such  proposition,  and  declared  that  Kathe  had  altered  so  much 
during  her  stay  with  her  invalid  sister,  had  lost  so  much  color, 
and  so  much  of  her  happy,  joyous  brightness,  that  she  was 
sure  it  was  best  for  her  to  remain  where  she  was  till  she  had 
become  quite  strong,  and  had  regained  the  glooming  rosiuesa 
of  her  cheeks.  "  Besides,"  she  added,  to  clinch  her  argument, 
"  Madame  Steiner  is  staying,  as  you  know,  at  the  villa,  and 
what  with  her  son's  governess  and  her  personal  attendants,  1 
am  sure  there  is  not  the  smallest  chance  of  your  finding  a 
spare  room  to  sleep  in. " 


210  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

But  Kathe  herself  shrunk  from  returning  to  the  villa  until 
after  Flora's  marriage  and  her  consequent  removal  to  Leipsic. 
She  knew  that  it  would  be  quite  impossible  for  her  to  try  and 
maintain  an  outward  show  of  peace,  in  the  midst  of  the  many 
conflicting  relations  she  would  have  to  pass  through,  if  sho 
lived  under  the  same  roof  as  her  sisters,  for  the  few  months  be 
fore  the  wedding.  It  required,  indeed,  all  the  powers  of  dis- 
simulation she  could  call  to  her  aid  to  hide  from  the  loving 
eyes  of  her  Dresden  home  that  she  had  lost  her  peace  of  mind, 
that  her  heart  ached,  and  that  she  had — unconsciously  at  first, 
it  is  true — grown  to  care  for  a  man  who  was  bound  in  honor 
and  by  every  outward  social  tie  to  her  sister,  and  whom  to 
think  of  the  world  would  call  sin. 

As  yet  Henriette  had  not  urged  her  to  return,  in  spite  of 
her  oft-repeated  longings  for  her  presence,  but  she  spoke  in 
glowing  terms  of  "  Auntie  Diakonus's  "  great  kindness  to  her, 
and  of  how  she  did  all  in  her  power  to  make  the  lonely  invalid 
girl's  life  less  lonely  than  it  was.  The  weekly  letters 
contained  long  accounts  of  everything  that  transpired  at  the 
house  by  the  river — in  fact  the  doctor  and  his  aunt  were  the 
two  principal  personages  mentioned  on  every  page — and  from 
the  death  of  a  tiny  yellow  chicken  to  the  gathering  of  the 
grapes  in  the  grape-house,  Henriette  retailed  for  Kathe 's  bene- 
fit their  daily  life,  their  daily  joys  and  sorrows,  the  ins  and 
outs  of  their  domestic  affairs,  and,  as  well  as  she  could,  the  im- 
pression all  these  things  made  on  the  two  beings  so  dear  to  her 
heart.  Here  and  there  the  leaves  of  the  letter  would  be 
marked  with  traces  of  tears,  especially  when  the  subject  was 
Flora — but  not  a  word  did  she  write  of  Flora's  relations  with 
her  lover;  only  now  and  again  she  would  burst  forth  into 
strong  lamentations  that  the  increasing  practice  of  the  latter 
left  him  very  little  time  to  visit  the  villa,  and  once  that  he  was 
growing  so  irritable  and  impatient  that  his  whole  nature 
seemed  changed. 

And  thus  the  time  slipped  away,  till  there  were  only  a  few 
days  left  before  the  wedding.  Flora  had  as  yet  sent  no  invita- 
tion to  her  young  step-sister  in  Dresden.  "  Her  head  is  so 
full  of  all  the  entertainments  being  given  in  her  honor,"  Hen- 
riette wrote,  "  that  she  seems  unable  to  think  of  anything 
else,"  and  that  accounted  for  her  being  as  "capricious  as 
ever."  "  We  have  hardly  time  to  breathe  now,  and  what  it 
will  be  when  the  wedding  gayeties  begin  at  home,  I  must  leave 
you  to  judge  for  yourself,  Kathe,"  she  added,  in  another  let- 
ter, and  then  went  on  to  say  that  she  was  already  worn  out  with 
the  confusion  and  whirl  around  her,  and  that  she  looked  for- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  311 

ward  with  dread  to  the  eventful  day.  as  she  knew  that "  auntie  " 
was  so  wrapped  up  in  her  own  grief  at  parting  with  her  nephew 
that  she  would  be  of  no  use  to  her,  and  on  no  account  would 
she  face  the  festivities  attendant  on  the  marriage  alone.  Day 
after  day  the  poor  girl  wrote  in  this  strain,  till  one  evening, 
about  three  days  before  the  wedding,  Kathe  received  a  tele- 
gram begging  her  to  "  come  at  once!  I  am  very  ill. " 

There  was  no  refusing  such  an  appeal.  Even  Mme.  Lucas 
was  forced  to  acknowledge  that  Kathe  ought  to  go  and  takb 
care  of  her  sister  at  such  a  trying  time.  And  Kathe  herself? 
When  she  first  read  the  telegram  demanding  her  presence  at 
the  villa  she  shivered  with  a  nervous  dread  of  what  might  be 
awaiting  her  there — but  her  next  thought  was  one  of  jubilant 
delight,  that  she  would  at  least  see  him,  who  was  so  soon  to 
become  her  brother-in-law,  once  again  ere  he  became  her  sis- 
ter's husband. 

And  so  it  happened  that  one  fine  September  morning  Kathe 
stood  again  in  the  old  familiar  Mill-house  parlor,  awaiting  her 
breakfast,  after  traveling  all  night  in  the  train.  She  had  only 
just  arrived  from  the  station,  where  she  had  been  met  by  old 
Franz,  according  to  her  expressed  wish. 

The  room  in  which  she  was  standing  was  shaded  from  the 
full  glare  of  daylight  by  the  rich  chestnut-trees  in  front  of  the 
windows;  the  air  was  perfumed  with  the  smell  of  roses,  helio- 
trope, and  mignonette,  which  filled  the  vases  on  the  table  and 
stand.  A  snow-white  counterpane  covered  the  bed  in  the 
alcove;  and  on  the  exquisitely  clean  deal  table  in  the  center  of 
the  parlor  stood  the  old-fashioned  coffee-urn,  steaming  hot 
with  the  welcome  beverage,  while  a  fresh-baked  cake,  covered 
with  sugar,  was  placed  by  the  side  of  a  cup  and  saucer  of  rare 
and  old  china  that  had  once  belonged  to  Kathe's  grand- 
mother. 

The  floor  beneath  her  feet  vibrated  with  the  turning  of  the 
mill-wheels  in  the  room  below;  she  heard  the  cooing  of  tha 
doves  through  the  open  windows,  and  the  splash  of  the  water 
against  the  wheel  of  the  turn-mill  outside.  She  was  at  home 
in  her  own  house,  and  here  she  determined  to  remain,  no  mat- 
ter how  much  Mme.  Urach  might  turn  up  her  nose  at  the  in- 
tercourse between  the  villa  and  the  Mill-house.  She  would  go 
to  and  fro  to  see  Henriette,  stay  with  her  as  long  as  possible 
during  the  day;  but  nothing  should  induce  her  again  to  take 
up  her  abode  at  the  villa  while  she  had  it  in  her  power  to  re- 
main where  she  was. 

The  girl  was  very  silent  as  she  sat  at  her  breakfast.  She 
dreaded  her  first  visit  to  the  villa  with  a  strange  palpitation 


212  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

of  the  heart  that  made  her  feel  angry  and  vexed  with  herself; 
and  a  painful  longing  crept  over  her  to  see  the  old  house  by 
the  river,  the  weather-cock  of  which  was  just  discernible 
through  the  trees  in  the  distance.  But  her  cheeks  flushed  as 
she  recalled  to  her  memory  the  fact  that  she  had  been  ban- 
ished from  that  house  by  its  master,  whose  grave,  earnest  face 
she  had  first  met  in  the  very  room  where  she  was  now  sitting. 
And  then  a  wild  longing  sprung  up  in  her  heart  to  see  him 
again.  She  could  not  forget  him;  for  she  knew  now — had 
known  for  a  long  time — that  she  loved  him  with  all  the  pas- 
sionate warmth  of  her  nature.  It  tortured  her  to  know  it. 
She  struggled  against  it  with  all  her  strength  of  will,  but  she 
could  not  forget  him. 

Then  she  rose  and  went  to  the  window,  which  commanded  a 
view  of  the  spinning  manufactory  formerly  belonging  to  the 
counselor,  her  guardian.  Her  attention  was  arrested  by  a 
number  of  people  congregated  together  around  the  public  en- 
trance, and  her  thoughts  flew  off  to  a  conversation  she  had 
heard  between  two  of  her  fellow-travelers  in  the  train,  in  which 
one  and  the  other  alternately  expressed  great  apprehensions  of 
danger  from  the  present  insubordinate  state  of  the  working 
classes.  The  topic  had  been  often  discussed  in  her  presence 
during  the  past  few  months  in  Dresden,  and  ref erence  had  been 
made  over  and  over  again  to  the  disgraceful  attempts  in  the 
forest  on  Flora  by  a  few  of  the  female  mill  hands,  as  an  exam- 
ple of  the  pass  things  were  coming  to  with  the  lower  orders. 

As  she  stood  at  the  window  Kathe  heard  the  murmur  of 
human  voices  above  the  sound  of  the  cooing  of  the  doves  and 
the  splash  of  the  water  on  the  turning  wind-mill.  She  watched 
the  crowd  swaying  to  and  fro  with  excited  gesticulations,  as  on 
that  day  in  the  spring  when  the  mill  hands  had  been  informed 
that  their  master  had  sold  his  manufactory  to  a  company  of 
stock-brokers.  This  company  had  failed,  and  the  machines 
being  all  stopped,  the  workmen  were  in  a  state  of  agitatioii 
and  anger. 

"  It's  always  so,"  said  old  Franz,  who  had  just  brought  in 
Kathe's  trunk,  and  was  now  looking  out  of  the  window  at  her 
side.  "  The  men  were  well  off  before,  but  they  were  always 
grumbling  then.  Now  they  have  had  a  change  of  masters. 
See,  there  they  are,  none  the  better  for  it  either;  changing 
their  horses  for  donkeys,  and  getting  a  bad  time  of  it.  Each 
Lopes  to  gain  by  bad  practices,  but  you  see  it  won't  do;  and 
one  can  hardly  find  it  in  one's  heart  to  blame  the  youngsters 
when  their  elders  set  them  such  a  pitiful  example. 

"  Honorable  dealings  with  rich  and  poor,  those  are  my  idoss 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  213 

ff  honesty,"  continued  old  Franz,  gently  tapping  the  table 
with  his  rough  fingers;  "  and  that's  the  best  way  of  earning  a 
good  sound  sleep  every  night.  Those  who  don't  understand 
the  art  of  speculating,  have  no  right  to  meddle  with  it. 
There's  the  master  there,  the  counselor:  he  understands  it 
right  well,  and  is  as  safe  as  a  trivet,  because  he  has  a  steady 
head,  cool  judgment,  and  plenty  of  sense."  Then,  putting 
his  forefinger  to  his  nose,  he  added,  knowingly :  ' '  He  came 
back  yesterday  from  Berlin;  I  saw  him  at  the  station,  where  I 
had  gone  with  some  grain.  And  didn't  he  make  his  two  roans 
fly  like  the  wind!  He  knows  what  is  what,  if  anyone  does. 
The  people  down  there  are  saying  that  he  must  have  returned 
from  some  successful  transaction,  he  looks  so  contented  and 
happy.  He  has  been  a  precious  long  time  away;  and  he 
wouldn't  have  returned  to-night  if  it  were  not  the  eve  of  the 
wedding,  and  grand  doings  are  going  on,  I  can  tell  you,  frau- 
lein." 

The  eve  of  the  wedding ! — so  soon !  Kathe  had  known  that 
the  marriage  was  fixed  for  the  following  day,  and  that  im- 
mediately after  the  ceremony  the  young  couple  were  to  start 
on  a  journey.  She  had  read  it  over  and  over  again  in  Hen- 
riette's  weekly  letters;  but  now  that  old  Franz  mentioned  the 
fact  by  word  of  mouth,  it  seemed  as  if  she  had  heard  it  for 
the  first  time  this  morning;  and  in  so  hearing  it  experienced  a 
dull,  heavy,  aching  pain  at  her  heart  that  made  her  catch 
her  breath  and  feel  inclined  to  cry  out  aloud. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  there  are  to  be  grand  doings,"  remarked 
Susanne,  while  pouring  out  the  fragrant  coffee  and  handing  it 
to  her  young  mistress.  "  Only  yesterday  the  counselor's  but- 
ler was  telling  me  that  so  many  guests  have  been  invited  he 
doesn't  believe  there  will  be  room  for  'em  all.  There  are  to 
be  private  theatricals  too,  and  several  young  ladies  are  coming 
from  town  dressed  in  costume,  and  cart-loads  of  green  foliage 
have  been  fetched  from  the  forest  to  ornament  the  stages ;  and 
there  is  to  be  dancing  and  charades,  and  fun  of  all  sorts,  as 
there  always  is,  thank  God,  on  the  eve  of  every  wedding  in 
this  blessed  country.  I  am  rejoiced  you've  come,  fraulein,  to 
join  in  the  festivities.  Fraulein  Henriette  will  Just  go  stark 
mad  from  joy,  poor,  suffering  lamb!" 

It  was  toning  eleven  by  the  great  tower  clock  as  Kathe  left 
the  Mill-house  on  her  way  to  the  villa,  and  a  moment  after  she 
heard  the  clear  metallic  ring  of  the  spinning  manufactory  clock 
strike  out  the  same  hour  as  she  passed  across  the  court-yard; 
but  directly  she  had  closed  the  private  door  leading  from  the 
mill  to  the  park  she  found  herself  surrounded  by  a  deep  intense 


214  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

stillness  which  was  much  more  in  harmony  with  her  present 
mood  than  the  chattering  of  old  Snsaniie  about  the  affairs  at 
the  villa,  or  the  noise  of  the  grinding  machines  at  the  mill. 

Franz  was  right  when  he  said  that  the  counselor  "  under- 
stood the  art  of  speculating  "  to  a  successful  end.  Everything 
iround  her  bespoke  the  owner  of  this  beautiful  place  as  a  rich 
man.  Before  her  stretched  a  gleaming  mirror  of  water  in 
'vhich  the  bright,  sunny  tints  of  the  blue  heavens  above  were 
reflected,  and  the  lovely  foliage  of  the  trees  around  shaded  here 
and  there  into  the  rich  brown,  yellow,  and  red  of  autumn 
formed  a  striking  and  exquisite  contrast  to  the  glitter  and 
sheen  of  the  miniature  lake.  This  lake  had  been  finished  far 
sooner  than  Kathe  had  any  idea  was  possible  in  such  an  im- 
mense undertaking,  and  that  too  was  another  proof  of  the 
riches  possessed  by  her  guardian.  Swans  were  arching  their 
graceful  necks  on  the  surface  of  the  shining  water,  and  on  the 
opposite  side  a  tiny  boat  was  moored  to  the  steps  of  a  prettily 
built  boat-house. 

Wandering  along  under  the  trees,  she  noticed  how  beautifully 
the  park  was  kept — not  a  handful  of  dead  leaves  could  have 
been  gathered  from  the  paths — not  a  weed  nor  a  blade  of  grass 
were  to  be  seen  on  the  cleanly  swept  walks,  injured  branches 
were  carefully  pruned  away  from  contact  with  healthy  ones, 
and  even  the  ivy  was  trained  to  hang  in  graceful  festoons  from 
tree  to  tree,  and  to  cling  to  various  huge  moss-covered  stones 
laid  about  for  the  purpose.  Numbers  of  gardeners  were  em- 
ployed on  this  work  all  the  year  round,  and  this,  as  Kathe 
vaguely  thought  to  herself,  was  again  a  proof  of  the  wealth 
possessed  by  her  guardian. 

She  wandered  on,  and  presently  turned  into  the  winding 
linden  avenue  which  led  to  the  house.  Never  before  had  Kathe 
felt  so  unwilling  to  enter  that  fairy  castle,  looking  so  bright 
and  gleaming  in  the  sunlight,  as  she  did  now.  Involuntarily 
she  clasped  her  hands  to  her  bosom,  as  she  came  in  sight  of  its 
proud  turrets  and  polished  balconies,  and  the  flag  waving  over 
the  chimney-pots,  a  sure  sign  of  the  festivities  going  on  beneath 
its  roof.  The  blood  mounted  to  her  brow  as  she  remembered 
that  she  had  not  been  invited;  yet  there  she  was,  about  to  en- 
ter its  portals  and  join  in  the  amusements  arranged  for  others. 
It  was  a  great  proof  of  her  sisterly  affection  that  she  could 
thus  lay  aside  her  pride  for  the  sake  of  Henriette's  welfare. 
It  had  required  a  great  struggle  with  herself,  but  love  had 
triumphed  over  pride,  and  here  she  was  within  a  few  yards  of 
the  grand  entrance  to  the  house  she  had  left  three  months  ago, 
like  a  fugitive  fleeing  before  an  enemy.  Raising  her  eyes  to 


THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  215 

the  "balcony  3he  saw  Mme.  TJrach's  favorite  clog  snapping  and 
barking  at  every  one  who  entered  the  room,  and  on  the  left  of 
one  of  the  windows  a  parrot  was  screaming  as  loud  as  it  could, 
in  angry  defiance  at  the  dog's  howling. 

When  Kathe  reached  the  hall  a  lady  was  crossing  to  a  room 
on  the  opposite  side,  with  a  lace  pocket-handkerchief  held  to 
her  eyesj  and  evidently  weeping  bitter  floods  of  tears.  Kathe 
recognized  her  as  the  wife  of  an  officer  in  the  army  whose  ex- 
travagant dress  was  one  of  the  topics  of  scandal  in  town. 

' '  Her  husband  will  have  to  pay  up  now — the  very  bed  will 
be  taken  from  under  him/'  Kathe  heard  one  of  the  servants 
say  in  the  room  of  the  hall  devoted  to  the  footmen;  "  and 
serve  him  right  too!  What  business  had  an  officer  like  the 
major  to  go  speculating  in  things  he  did  not  understand?  And 
there  goes  his  wife,  who  has  been  begging  the  counselor  to  help 
them  out  of  their  difficulties.  If  he  were  to  begin  opening  his 
purse  to  all  those  who  have  come  to  grief  in  this  last  smash, 
which  involves  the  spinning  manufactory,  why  he  might  as 
well  pick  up  a  staif  and  go  begging  himself,  for  he  wouldn't 
have  a  penny  left." 

Kathe  shuddered  as  the  heartless  words  fell  on  her  ears,  and 
mechanically  mounted  the  broad  staircase  leading  to  the  rooms 
she  had  occupied  in  the  spring.  Hearing  no  movement  within, 
she  opened  the  door  and  went  in.  She  noticed  in  a  moment 
that  the  room  had  not  been  put  in  order  for  another  guest  since 
Baroness  Steiner's  departure.  Some  of  the  furniture  had  been 
removed,  and  in  its  place  two  or  three  long  tables  were  stand- 
ing against  the  walls  covered  with  heaps  of  linen  and  articles 
of  apparel  that  evidently  formed  part  of  the  bridal  trousseau. 
From  a  mahogany-tree  in  the  center  of  the  apartment  hung  a 
shining  mass  of  cream-colored  satin  covered  in  part  with  costly 
lace,  and  ornamented  with  orange-blossoms  and  myrtle,  and 
although  it  hung  from  a  high  stand,  the  train  of  the  drapery 
lay  low  on  the  floor  around  for  the  space  of  several  feet. 

"  Flora's  wedding  finery!"  said  Kathe  to  herself  as  she 
closed  the  door,  and  a  moment  or  two  later  she  found  her  way 
into  Henriette's  room,  where  the  suffering  girl  received  her 
with  a  wild  scream  of  delight  and  fond  words  of  endearment 
that  warmed  her  heart  and  made  her  forget  for  the  time  being 
the  effort  it  had  cost  her  to  answer  the  telegram  in  person. 

Henriette  was  quite  alone.  No  one  had  any  time  for  her, 
she  complained.  The  counselor  monopolized  Flora's  entire 
attention  in  arranging  the  marriage  festivities,  for  he  was  tak- 
ing this  opportunity  of  showing  to  the  town  that  he  knew  how 
to  do  things  on  a  grand  scale,  and  that  money  was  no  object 


216  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

to  him  when  once  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  spend  it, 
Lately  he  seemed  to  have  a  sort  of  craving  to  spend  money, 
and  to  have  all  the  arrangements  for  the  marriage  carried  out 
on  a  regal  scale.  Then  she  informed  Kathe  that  she  had  not 
told  any  one  about  the  telegram,  adding,  as  she  saw  Kath/s 
eyes  open  with  astonishment  and  her  head  shake  deprecating- 
ly:  "It  was  quite  unnecessary,  dear;  I  have  always  told  them 
that  you  would  come  back  soon,  and  they  ought  to  know  for 
themselves  that  in  my  weak  state  I  need  you  now  to  nurse  me 
more  than  last  spring."  Then  seeing  an  anxious  look  on 
Kathe's  face,  she  comforted  her  by  saying  that  there  was  noth- 
ing to  fear  from  the  counselor's  attentions,  as  he  had  found 
some  one  else  to  care  for  in  Berlin,  from  all  she  could  gather. 
He  had  twice  stayed  away  so  long  that  on  his  return  Flora  had 
insinuated  laughingly  that  he  must  have  found  an  attraction 
there  to  keep  him;  which  he  had  not  denied,  but  rather,  on 
the  contrary,  had  allowed  was  a  very  good  reason  for  his  ab- 
sence. 

Kathe  made  no  remark  in  reply  to  this  communication,  but 
she  found  herself  thinking  that  perhaps  the  wisest  course  for 
her  to  pursue  would  be  to  take  the  next  train  back  to  Dres- 
den. She  thought  Henriette  looked  very  ill,  and  her  hollow 
cough  seemed  to  shake  the  frail  body  more  often  than  in  the 
spring;  her  hands  were  burning,  and  her  breathing  was  much 
shorter  and  more  labored  than  Kathe  had  ever  seen  it  before. 
Formerly  Henriette  had  never  allowed  herself  to  weep,  but 
now,  after  a  glance  at  her  sister's  face,  she  burst  into  a  flood 
of  tears,  and  begged  Kathe  not  to  leave  her,  she  felt  so  utter- 
ly lonely  and  miserable. 

Kathe  comforted  her  to  the  best  of  her  power,  and  assured 
her  she  would  stay  with  her  at  least  till  after  the  wedding;  but 
then  the  mention  of  the  wedding  produced  another  outburst 
of  weeping,  in  which  Henriette  sobbed  out  her  fears  that  Dr. 
Brack  would  be  unhappy  with  Flora  as  his  wife,  in  spite  of  the 
love  he  had  for  her,  and  hiding  her  head  on  Kathe 's  bosom, 
she  intimated  that,  although  "auntie -"had  kept  her  own 
counsel  and  said  nothing  about  the  matter,  yet  that  she,  Hen- 
riette, was  sure  the  old  lady  shared  her  fears  and  even  blamed 
herself  for  allowing — 

But  Kathe  cut  these  lamentations  short  by  remarking  that 
the  affair  was  Dr.  Bruck's,  and  his  alone,  that  he  had  had 
ample  opportunity  of  judging  Flora's  disposition  during  the 
last  year,  and  he  must  now  meet  his  fate  and  accept  the  conse- 
quences of  his  own  acts,  be  they  what  they  might. 

Henriette  started  back  in  surprise  as  the  bitter  tpords  fell 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  21? 

from  Kathe's  lips  in  a  hard,  metallic  voice,  but  she  dried  her 
eyes  and  said  nothing  while  Kathe  took  off  her  things. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

HALF  an  hour  later  Kathe  gently  helped  Henriette  to  de- 
scend the  stairs,  in  order  to  announce  her  arrival  to  the  rest  of 
the  family.  When  the  two  girls  reached  the  side  hall,  where 
Kathe  had  hidden  for  a  moment  behind  the  flowers  the  rtight 
of  her  flight,  now  three  months  ago,  she  stood  still  for  a  second 
to  take  a  peep  into  the  large  reception-room  immediately  fac- 
ing her,  from  which  a  strange,  humming  monotonous  sound  of 
voices  proceeded. 

"  They  are  rehearsing  for  to-night/ '  explained  Henriette, 
in  a  short,  contemptuous  tone,  after  listening  to  the  sound  for 
a  moment.  "  How  I  detest  all  those  girls!  They  would  like 
to  scratch  Flora's  face,  I  know,  and  yet  there  they  are  making 
fools  of  themselves  in  trying  to  declaim  some  such  poetical 
stuff  as  that  her  brow  is  worthy  of  the  kiss  with  which  genius 

freeted  her,  and  that  her  beauty  is  more  beautiful  than  the 
owers  which  adorn  her  dress,  etc.  Bah!  I  have  no  patience 
with  such  nonsense.  And  Moriz  is  behaving  like  an  idiot 
Just  fancy  what  he  did  yesterday  eveniug,  not  an  hour  after 
his  arrival  home !  He  had  all  the  decorations  taken  down  from 
the  walls,  because,  forsooth,  the  workmen,  like  sensible  fel- 
lows, had  used  stuff  instead  of  silk  damask  to  cover  the  hidden 
portions  of  the  stage;  he  seems  to  me  to  squander  his  money 
in  the  most  reckless,  nay,  wicked  fashion.  Look  here!" 

She  pushed  back  one  of  the  folding  doors,  in  order  to  allow 
Kathe  space  to  see  into  the  room  and  look  at  a  magnificent 
purple  velvet  canopy  bordered  with  gold  fringe,  under  which 
the  bridal  pair  were  to  sit  on  a  dais  during  the  evening's 
amusements. 

"  How  will  the  bridegroom's  dark,  pale  countenance  look 
under  that  costly  absurdity?"  whispered  Henriette,  with  a  sar- 
castic smile  hovering  round  her  thin  lips.  "  She  will  stand 
near  him  smiling  triumphantly,  arching  her  proud  neck,  and 
dressed  in  the  most  artlessly  simple  white  tulle  robe,  the  effect 
of  which  has  been  studied  for  weeks.  It  is  trimmed  with 
daisies,  the  sweet  innocent  little  flowers  being  considered  the 
most  fitting  emblem  of  the  feelings  of  a  bride  on  the  eve  of  her 
marriage.  Bah!  Kathe,  Kathe,  you  can  not  understand  how 
I  abhor  all  this  costly  show  lately — how  I  shrink  from  the 
sham  and  falseness  of  the  life  about  me,"  cried  the  girl,  in 
nervous  excitement,  and  adding,  as  she  clung  for  &  moment  to 


218  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Kathe's  strong,  supporting  figure,  "  I  seem  to  feel  within  me  a 
sort  of  presentiment  that  some  terrible  disaster  is  about  to 
happen,  or  some  secret  start  into  light  like  a  curling  flame  out 
of  smoldering  ashes. " 

"  Hush,  hush,  dear!"  was  all  Kathe  could -answer  in  words, 
but  she  held  her  feeble  sister  in  her  strong  embrace,  and 
waited  till  her  trembling  frame  had  become  composed  before 
proceeding  across  the  hall. 

Mme.  Urach,  Flora,  and  the  counselor  were  sitting  at 
breakfast  in  the  dining-room,  when  the  two  young  girls  en- 
tered. The  bride-elect  was  arrayed  in  a  gray,  rose-bordered 
morning-robe,  with  a  dainty  little  lace  cap  ornamenting  her 
head.  Kathe  was  startled  at  the  sharp,  worn  look  of  the  face, 
without  the  golden  fringe  of  curls  which  usually  ornamented 
Flora's  forehead  later  on  in  the  day,  and  she  could  not  avoid 
confessing  to  herself  that  her  lovely  sister's  youthful  appear- 
ance had  considerably  lessened  since  she  last  saw  her.  The 
oval  of  the  face  had  assumed  a  hard  sharp  outline,  and  here  and 
there,  around  her  eyes  and  mouth,  traces  of  furrows  were  very 
distinctly  to  be  seen. 

"  Good  gracious,  Kathe,  whatever  made  you  choose  this  day, 
of  all  days  in  the  year,  to  come  back  among  us,  like  a  bad 
penny?"  she  cried,  making  an  effort  to  conceal  her  mortifica- 
tion and  annoyance  at  her  younger  sister's  sudden  and  unex- 
pected appearance.  ' '  You  place  me  in  a  very  awkward  predica- 
ment, whether  I  will  or  will  not:  you  must  of  course  join  my 
bride-maids.  I  have  twelve  already,  and  thirteen  I  will  not 
tolerate  for  a  second,  as  you  yourself  must  quite  understand — " 

She  suddenly  checked  herself,  and  a  cry  of  vexation  and 
alarm  escaped  her  lips. 

The  counselor  was  sitting  with  his  back  to  the  door,  and  in 
the  act  of  pouring  out  a  glass  of  burgundy,  when  Flora's  ex- 
clamation announced  the  entrance  of  the  girls.  Whether  it 
was  the  suddenness  of  the  exclamation  which  shook  his  hand, 
or  that  in  raising  his  eyes  to  see  who  it  was  he  did  not  put  the 
glass  safely  on  the  table,  no  one  could  have  said;  but  the  re- 
sult was  that  the  purple  contents  were  spilled  over  the  white 
table-cloth  and  all  down  the  side  of  Flora's  charming  dress. 

The  counselor  sprung  up  from  his  seat  with  pale  face,  wide- 
open  mouth,  and  staring  eyes,  as  if  he  saw  the  spirit  of  a  dead 
friend,  instead  of  the  tall,  rounded  figure  and  sweet,  earnest 
face  of  his  ward  entering  the  room.  For  one  moment  he 
seemed  unable  to  speak,  the  next  he  had  recovered  his  self- 
command,  laughingly  apologized  to  Flora  for  his  awkwardness, 
rang  the  bell  for  a  servant  to  repair  the  damage  he  had  caused 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  219 

to  the  breakfast-table,  and  then  hastened  across  the  room  to 
greet  Kathe.  Not  a  trace  of  the  rejected  lover  was  noticeable 
in  his  manner,  as  he  quietly  shook  hands  with  her,  and  uttered 
a  few  words  of  pleasure  at  seeing  her  back  in  his  house.  His 
bearing  toward  her  made  her  feel  at  her  ease  immediately,  for 
one  glance  at  his  face  assured  her  that  he  had  again  returned 
to  his  former  relation  with  her — that  of  a  fatherly  guardian  to 
a  young  ward.  Laying  one  hand  on  her  shoulder,  he  said: 

"  I  did  venture  to  send  you  a  formal  invitation,  Kathe,  and 
lately  I  have  been  so  busy  and  occupied  with  other  affairs,  that 
a  visit  to  Dresden  was  quite  out  of  the  question,  even  if  I  had 
had  time  to  think  of  it.  You  will  forgive  me,  if  I — " 

"  I  have  come  back  entirely  and  for  the  sole  purpose  of  be- 
ing with  Henriette,  now  she  is  ill  again/'  Kathe  interrupted 
quickly,  but  without  the  slightest  reproach  in  her  tone  for 
Flora's  rudeness. 

"  That  is  very  nice  and  kind  of  you,  my  dear,"  remarked 
Mme.  Urach,  the  frown  clearing  from  her  brow,  which  Kathe's 
unexpected  entrance  had  brought  there;  adding,  as  a  per- 
plexed look  settled  around  her  mouth:  "  But  where  are  we  to 
put  you?  Flora's  trousseau  is  laid  out  in  the  room  you  used 
to  occupy,  and — " 

"  You  must  allow  me  to  take  possession  of  my  own  quarters, 
madame;  indeed  I  have  done  so  already,"  said  Kathe,  politely 
but  firmly. 

"  I  see  no  other  alternative  left  open  to  me  but  to  accept 
your  proposition,"  replied  the  old  lady,  good-humoredly. 
"  By  this  evening  our  house  will  be  as  full  as  possible — every 
corner  occupied;  and  even  this  morning  we  had  some  little  diffi- 
culty to  reserve  this  room  free  for  our  breakfast.  Eeally  I  never 
remember  seeing  the  house  in  such  a  terrible  state  of  confusion. 
Ever  since  dawn  men  have  been  at  work  hammering,  nail- 
ing- 

"  And  now  the  girls  are  declaiming  at  the  top  of  their  voices 
in  the  drawing-room,  loud  enough,  too,  to  shake  the  balcony 
from  its  supports,"  Henriette  remarked,  with  no  little  con- 
tempt in  her  voice,  sitting  down  in  an  easy-chair.  "  As  Kathe 
and  I  passed,  just  now,  we  overheard  something  about  '  Pallas 
Athene,'  the  '  Rose  of  Cashmere/  and  the  newly  made  bride 
all  mixed  up  in  verse — " 

"Be  quiet,  Henriette!"  cried  Flora,  clasping  her  hands 
angrily  to  her  ears.  "  I  think  it  shows  great  want  of  taste  on 
your  part  to  tell  me  beforehand  of  such  dilettante  perform- 
ances, when  you  know  how  I  have  always  excelled  in  acting 


220  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

myself;  and  now  I  shall  have  to  sit  still  and  say  nothing,  whifc 
others  are  making  fun  of  and  laughing  at — " 

Mme.  Urach  raised  her  hand,  and  by  a  gesture  commanded 
her  granddaughter  to  hold  her  tongue,  for  ns  she  spoke  the 
young  ladies  entered  the  room,  having  finished  their  rehearsal. 

Flora  glided  off  into  a  tiny  anteroom  at  the  side,  while 
Fraulein  von  Grise  coldly  greeted  Kathe  with  the  remark  that 
she  had  been  away  during  the  pleasantest  part  of  the  year, 
after  which  she  turned  to  the  counselor,  and,  holding  out  her 
hand,  said,  in  affected  gayety: 

"  Oh,  how  pleasant  to  see  you  here,  Herr  von  Romer,  for 
now  we  can  thank  you  in  person  for  the  marvelously  beautiful 
manner  in  which  you  have  seconded  our  efforts  for  to-night's 
amusement.  It  is  really  superb !  and  the  decorations  are  be- 
yond praise.  Such  fairy  scenes  are  more  fit  for  fairy-land  than 
this  prosy  every-day  world:  that  ball-room  is  simply  exquisite- 
ly decorated.  How  pleasant  it  must  be  to  be  so  rich!  Apropos 
of  riches,  have  you  heard  the  news  about  Major  Bredon? 
They  say  he  is  ruined,  utterly  ruined!  This  money  panic  is 
too  alarming — first  one  and  then  another,  and — " 

11  But  Major  Bredon  has  been  speculating  to  a  fearful  ex- 
tent," remarked  Mme.  Urach,  softly,  leaning  back  in  her  fau- 
teuil  and  arranging  her  dress.  * '  How  could  he  be  so  mad,  so 
utterly  wanting  in  common  sense?" 

"  His  wife  is  a  lovely  woman,  and  she  is  the  one  really  in 
fault — she  has  been  shamefully  extravagant.  Why,  her  toilet 
alone  has  cost  more  than  three  thousand  thalers  a  year!" 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear;  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  their  ruin, 
or  rather  it  would  not  have  mattered  if  her  husband  had  been 
more  careful  about  his  capital;  but  he  speculated  in  things 
that  he  ought  to  have  known  were  mere  bubbles."  She 
shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  smiling  at  the  counselor,  added: 
"  In  all  such  matters  he  should  have  taken  a  business  man's 
advice,  as  I  did.  We  are  safe  enough;  are  we  not,  Moriz?" 

"  I  believe  so,"  he  replied,  with  laconic  brevity,  filling  up 
his  glass  with  some  burgundy,  and  drinking  it  off;  "  but  I 
suppose  few  escape  untouched  in  such  a  panic  as  the  present 
one;  here  and  there  one-  loses  a  little — '  nothing  risk/  you 
know,  *  nothing  have/  but  mere  flea-bites  which  hurt  no 
one-" 

"  Ah!  that  reminds  me  that  I  have  not  seen  the  paper  to- 
day/3 broke  in  Mme.  Urach,  quickly,  rising  from  her  chair. 
"  Generally  I  have  it  brought  to  me  punctually  at  nine 
o'clock." 

"  Possibly  an  oversight  on  the  part  of  the  postman,  grand- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  221 

mamma,"  he  replied,  indifferently,  shrugging  his  shoulders; 
' '  or,  perhaps,  yours  has  got  mixed  with  mine  by  some  mistake 
of  the  servants.  I  have  not  opened  my  letters  yet;  they  are  in 
my  rooms  in  the  tower.  I  will  go  and  see  if  yours  is  there." 
He  poured  out  another  glass  of  burgundy  and  drank  it  off, 
and  as  he  put  the  wine-glass  back  on  the  table,  he  said,  by  way 
of  apology  for  drinking  so  much  wine:  "  Pardon  me,  ladies; 
but  one  of  my  headaches  has  just  suddenly  come  on,  and  I 
fancy  the  wine  may  ward  it  off  for  a  time.  Two  or  three 
glasses  of  burgundy  had  a  very  happy  effect  on  me  last  week, 
when  I  was  attacked  in  a  similar  manner;  I  hope  it  will  do  th» 
same  now.  Come,"  he  added,  going  to  the  buffet,  uncorking 
a  bottle  of  Stein,  and  filling  several  glasses  standing  near; 
"  come,  ladies,  my  headache  is  better  already."  His  face  was 
flushed  now,  instead  of  pale  and  drawn.  "  Let  us  drink  to  the 
success  of  this  evening's  amusements,"  and  he  handed  a  glass 
to  each  of  the  young  ladies;  then  holding  his  own  high  in  the 
air,  he  cried:  "  Long  live  youth  and  beauty,  and  may  we  all 
live  on  to  enjoy  the  happy  life  so  pleasant  to  each  of  us  just 
now!" 

Glasses  were  touched  all  round,  while  Mme.  Urach  smiled 
and  slightly  shook  her  head.  Kathe  had  drawn  back  into  the 
corner  and  stood  by  Henriette's  couch  while  her  guardian  was 
pouring  out  the  wine.  He  did  not  seem  to  notice  her  presence 
or  that  she  did  not  join  in  the  toast;  he  offered  her  no  glass, 
and  she  did  not  go  forward  to  take  one;  but  she  saw  how  Hen- 
riette's eyes  filled  with  tears  at  the  counselor's  tactless  refer- 
ence to  a  "  happy  life,"  and  how  her  lips  quivered  as  the  clang 
of  the  glasses  fell  on  her  ear;  for  life  to  her  was  anything  but 
a  pleasure,  with  all  the  suffering  she  had  to  endure,  when, 
sometimes  for  weeks  together,  the  drawing  of  each  breath  was 
painful  almost  beyond  endurance. 

Kathe  glanced  anxiously  and  questioningly  at  her  guardian's 
excited  face.  She  never  imagined  that  behind  his  pleasant 
manners  and  placid,  handsome  countenance  an  inward  struggle 
might  be  going  on,  the  result  of  which  even  he  himself  dreaded; 
but  now  as  she  gazed  at  his  flushing  eyes  and  heightened  color, 
and  noticed  the  convulsive  movement  of  his  lips,  and  the  slight 
trembling  of  the  hand  which  held  the  glass,  and  heard  the 
forced  ring  of  his  voice,  she  was  convinced  in  her  own  mind 
that  something  strange  must  have  happened  of  which  he  was 
cognizant,  and  which  he  was  anxious  to  conceal  from  those 
about  him,  or  that  he  was  ill. 

The  counselor  seemed  indignantly  to  feel  the  effect  of  Kathe's 
glance,  for  he  unwillingly,  turned  round  and  looked  rapidly 


222  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

across  at  the  corner  where  the  two  girls  were,  then  quickly 
placed  his  glass  on  the  table,  and  passing  one  hand  over  his 
forehead,  he  held  on  to  the  buffet  with  tne  other  in  order  to 
steady  himself  from  falling,  for  the  giddiness  in  his  head  had 
momentarily  taken  possession  of  him  again,  in  spite  of  the 
wins  he  had  taken  to  ward  it  off. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  preparations  for  the  amusements  of  the  evening  on  the 
ground- floor  of  the  villa  went  on  at  a  rapid  rate,  at  the  same 
time  causing  a  noise  and  confusion  which  became  almost  un- 
bearable as  the  afternoon  advanced.  The  families  from  the 
surrounding  neighborhood  began  to  arrive  in  quick  succession, 
accompanied  by  baskets  full  of  "  theatrical  things,"  to  be 
donned  later  on  by  the  fair  occupants  of  the  carriages.  The 
whole  of  the  ground-floor  seemed  in  a  hopeless  state  of  confu- 
sion; hair-dressers  were  hanging  about  the  hall  waiting  to  be 
summoned  to  the  several  ladies,  whose  costume  demanded  an 
appropriate  arrangement  of  their  hair;  maids  were  flying  up 
and  down  to  answer  the  bells,  every  one  of  which  seemed 
possessed  with  St.  Vitus's  dance;  gardeners  were  coming  and 
going,  bearing  large  trays  of  hot-house  grapes  and  other  deli- 
cacies for  dessert,  while  the  under-gardeners  hurried  to  and  fro 
with  massive  pots  of  bright  flowers,  and  orange  and  palm-trees 
to  decorate  the  hall  and  ball-room.  Footmen  jostled  each 
other  in  the  performance  of  their  duty  in  attending  to  the 
constantly  arriving  guests,  and  in  conducting  the  right  person 
to  the  right  room  allotted  for  his  or  her  use;  and  in  every 
apartment  on  this  same  ground- floor  the  knocking  and  ham- 
mering going  on  was  almost  past  endurance  by  those  whose  ill- 
luck  it  was  to  have  TO  wait  about  in  the  hall. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  noise  and  confusion  down-stairs,  up- 
stairs in  the  comparative  quiet  and  seclusion  of  her  own  snug 
little  room,  Henriette  had  fallen  into  a  calm  deep  sleep.  In 
the  outer  chamber  used  by  the  invalid  as  a  sort  of  boudoir, 
Nanni,  her  personal  attendant,  was  sitting  at  work.  With  the 
swiftest  and  daintiest  fingers  she  was  sewing  on  to  some  airy 
stuff  quantities  of  silver  spangles,  which  the  busy  workmen 
down-stairs  were  to  hang  in  graceful  festoons  around  the  wall 
of  the  mimic  stage  in  the  ball-room. 

It  was  about  half  past  four  when  Kathe  softly  opened  the 
door,  and  passed  from  Henrietta's  bedroom  into  the  bou- 
doir. Stopping  a  moment  to  admire  the  deftness  of  the  wait- 
ing-woman's fingers,  she  entreated  her  to  watch  her  young  mis- 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  223 

tress  while  she  slept,  and  not  to  leave  the  room  under  any 
pretext  whatever,  adding: 

"  And  if  Fraulein  Henriette  awakes  before  I  return,  tell  her 
I  shall  be  back  in  an  hour;  I  am  only  going  to  the  Mill- 
house.  " 

Avoiding  the  grand  staircase  which  led  to  the  large  hall, 
Kathe  went  down  a  side  flight  of  stairs,  and  so  across  a  side 
corridor  of  the  dining-room.  For  the  moment  it  was  vacant-, 
but  no  sooner  had  Kathe  quietly  tripped  toward  the  door  than 
she  saw  the  counselor  emerge  from  a  second  door,  also  leading 
to  the  garden,  with  his  straw  hat  on  his  head,  and  evidently 
about  to  sally  forth  to  his  own  rooms  in  the  tower. 

"  There  is  no  need  to  hurry,  Anton,"  he  was  saying  to  his 
valet,  who  lived  in  the  ruined  tower  with  his  master;  <4 1  shall 
not  dress  before  six,  so  you  will  have  plenty  of  time  to  ride  to 
the  town  and  back." 

Kathe's  footsteps  lingered;  she  had  no  wish  for  a  private 
tete-a-tete  with  her  guardian  just  now,  and  she  thought  that  in 
a  few  moments  he  would  have  left  the  threshold  of  the  door 
and  gone  out  into  the  garden.  Bat  he  stood  still  on  the  top  of 
the  steps,  with  his  hands  in  his  trousers  pockets  and  his  back 
to  the  corridor,  surveying  the  scene  before  him.  One  would 
think  from  the  earnest  expression  on  his  face,  and  the  yearn- 
ing, almost  pained  look  in  his  eyes,  that  the  beautiful  land- 
scape at  his  feet,  with  its  soft,  late  afternoon  gleams  of  sunshine 
lighting  up  every  branch  and  tree,  and  casting  broad  shadows 
on  the  paths,  was  being  seen  by  him  for  the  last  time.  From 
one  point  to  the  other  his  gaze  wandered  slowly  over  the  whole 
extent  of  scenery  before  him,  and  then  Kathe  heard  him  sigh 
gently,  and  saw  too  that  his  breast  heaved  as  if  under  terrible 
emotion,  and  that  he  clinched  his  fist  in  his  pocket  as  if  striv- 
ing to  subdue  the  feelings  which  were  overpowering  him,  and 
that  then  suddenly  he  lifted  his  right  hand  to  his  brow  and 
pressed  it  across  his  eyes  as  he  had  done  in  the  morning  when 
the  giddiness  in  his  head  had  attacked  him. 

She  hurried  to  his  side.  The  rustling  of  her  silk  dress  made 
him  try  to  turn  round  to  see  who  was  there. 

"  You  have  the  headache  still?"  she  asked,  gently. 

"  Yes,  it  is  very  bad,  too,  and  I  have  just  had  another  fit  of 
giddiness,"  he  replied,  in  an  unsteady  voice,  pulling  his  hat 
deeper  over  his  brow.  "  I  don't  wonder  at  it,  either,  with  all 
this  noise  and  commotion  going  on  in  the  house.  If  I  had  had 
the  least  idea  of  the  thousand  and  one  worries  the  festivities  of 
this  evening  are  creating,  I  would  have  stayed  away,"  he  add- 
ed, presently,  with  a  steadier  voice,  but  with  still  a  very  ua- 


224  IK    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

natural  ring  in  it,  that  Kathe  could  not  account  for  as  simply 
caused  by  his  headache.  "  The  stupid  workmen  misunder- 
stood all  my  orders  during  my  absence,  and  executed  every 
one  exactly  in  the  contrary  way  to  my  wishes,  hence  a  week's 
work  has  had  to  be  undone  since  my  arrival  yesterday,  and  re- 
arranged again  in  the  space  of  twelve  hours.  And  I  am  afraid 
we  shall  have  this  knocking  and  hammering  up  to  the  very 
last  moment  before  the  curtain  rises." 

He  walked  down  the  steps  slowly,  and  with  the  uncertain 
movement  of  a  man  whose  vision  is  imperfect,  he  fairly  reeled 
as  he  reached  the  ground  and  clutched  at  the  iron  railing  for 
support. 

"  Shall  I  go  back  and  fetch  you  a  glass  of  seltzer-water?" 
asked  Kathe;  "  or  shall  I  send  for  Doctor  Brack?" 

"  No — no,  thank  you,  Kathe,"  he  answered,  in  a  strangely 
weak  tone;  but  his  eyes  glanced  at  her  tall,  elegant  figure  with 
an  eager,  devouring  gaze  that  brought  the  color  to  his  face  and 
made  him  droop  his  eyelids  for  a  second.  "  Besides,  you  are 
laboring  under  a  grand  mistake  if  you  imagine  Bruck  is 
to  be  had  so  easily.  Nothing  tempts  him  away  from  his 
patients  in  town.  My  firm  belief  is  that  he  will  have 
to  be  fetched  from  the  bedside  of  a  patient  to  go  through 
the  marriage  ceremony  to-morrow."  A  sarcastic  smile 
flitted  over  his  pale  lips,  and  he  added,  after  a  slight 
pause:  "  The  very  best  remedy  I  have  in  my  own  hands — my 
cool  wine  cellars.  I  was  just  going  over  to  the  tower  to  get 
the  wine  wanted  for  this  evening.  I  think  the  cool,  fresh  air 
down  in  the  cellars  will  do  me  more  good,  and  drive  away  my 
headache  much  sooner  than  any  amount  of  medicine;  it  will 
act  like  a  cold  water  bandage  on  my  hot  forehead/' 

Kathe  gave  a  little  touch  to  her  hat  to  fix  it  more  primly  on 
her  head,  and  moved  forward  down  the  steps. 

"You  are  going  to  the  Mill-house?  Not  any  further,  I 
hope?"  he  asked,  looking  at  his  watch. 

The  question  was  simple,  and  asked  in  a  careless  tone;  but 
Kathe  fancied  he  caught  his  breath  while  speaking,  and  that 
his  eyes  had  a  somewhat  strange  glare  in  them  as  he  looked 
up  for  her  answer. 

She  replied  by  telling  him  that  she  was  going  to  the  Mill- 
house,  to  put  the  finishing  touches  to  her  toilet  for  the  evening, 
and  nodding  her  head  gayly  she  turned  off  across  the  gravel 
walk,  while  the  counselor  wended  his  way  in  the  opposite 
direction  toward  the  tower. 

Kathe  had  reached  the  first  tree  beyond  the  pathway,  when 
she  involuntarily  stood  still  and  looked  back  at  her  guardian, 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  225 

He  was  walking  over  the  grass  with  the  same  hesitating,  un- 
steady gait  Kathe  had  noticed  in  him  once  before  to-day;  eve* 
while  she  looked  his  knees  seemed  to  bend  beneath  him,  and 
his  whole  figure  to  tremble,  and  his  hat  was  pushed  to  the  back 
of  his  head  as  if  he  could  not  bear  the  weight  of  the  pressure 
on  his  forehead,  and  again  the  girl  saw  his  eyes  wander  with  a 
mournful  but  purposeless  gaze  around  the  park. 

Suddenly  an  idea  Hashed  through  her  brain  and  her  face 
paled.  That  her  guardian  was  ill  she  had  no  doubt;  but  was 
it  safe  for  him  to  enter  the  wine-vaults  in  his  present  state 
alone?  And  she  shuddered  as  she  remembered  her  own  feelings 
the  day  he  had  escorted  her  and  her  sisters  to  visit  the  cellars, 
and  had  pointed  out  to  her  the  huge  old-fashioned  barrels  of 
gunpowder,  and  her  terror  in  case  anything  should  occur  to 
cause  those  barrels  to  blow  up. 

All  these  things  rushed  across  her  now,  and  she  trembled  as 
she  quickly  ran  back  and  called  out,  anxiously:  "  Moriz!  Moriz! 
do  be  careful  with  the  light  in  the  cellars!" 

Was  he  so  deep  in  thought,  or  was  he  in  such  a  nervous  state, 
that  the  unexpected  interruption  started  him  beyond  his  con- 
trol? Whichever  it  was  he  turned  round  with  a  white,  scared 
face,  and  muttered  an  oath  between  his  teeth  as  he  replied, 
angrily: 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  insinuate?  What?  Ah!  ha!  have 
you  seen  a  ghost  in  the  sunshine,  Kathe?"  he  added,  more  in 
his  usual  tone,  and  apparently  making  a  great  effort  to  control 
his  feelings.  Then  he  burst  into  a  wild  mocking  laugh,  which 
brought  back  the  color  of  shame  to  the  anxious  girl's  cheeks, 
and  waving  his  hand  with  a  disdainful  gesture,  he  reeled  for- 
ward and  disappeared  with  hasty  steps  behind  the  copse,  and 
out  of  her  sight. 

In  the  course  of  half  an  hour  Kathe  had  completed  her 
errand  to  the  Mill-house,  and  having  an  hour  to  spare  she  stole 
away  down  to  the  side  of  the  river  to  look  again  upon  the 
"  dear  old-fashioned  house  "  inhabited  by  Dr.  Bruck  and  his 
aunt.  How  her  heart  beat  as  she  caught  sight  of  its  familiar 
weather-cock  through  the  foliage  of  the  trees,  and  saw  the 
gleam  of  the  sun  on  the  windows.  How  she  started  too  at  the 
sound  of  her  own  footfall  as  she  slowly  paced  along  the  gravel 
pathway.  She  felt  like  an  exile  about  to  gaze  for  the  last  time 
on  the  beloved  haunts  of  his  happy  days.  She  leaned  against 
the  trunk  of  a  poplar-tree,  and  silently  contemplated  the  scene 
before  her.  Here  it  was  that  she  hud  stood  still  for  a  moment 
that  never-to-be-forgotten  dav  now  three  months  ago,  after  her 
8 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

interview  with  Dr.  Bruck,  and  looked  back  at  the  house  from 
which  she  had  been  banished. 

She  had  not  been  able  to  forget  the  picture  then  presented 
to  her  gaze — it  seemed  indelibly  impressed  on  her  mind.  The 
wondering  faces  of  the  children  as  they  watched  her  departure 
from  their  position  at  the  side  of  the  kitchen  garden,  the 
jtrong,  tall,  well-built  figure  of  the  young  doctor  standing 
against  the  garden-table,  the  open  hall  door  through  which 
she  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  white  cap-strings  of  the  old 
cook  at  work  in  the  kitchen — even  the  glint  of  the  setting 
sun  gilding  the  window-frames  and  casting  golden  and  crimson 
rays  on  the  tops  of  the  trees  behind  the  house. 

When  last  she  had  seen  these  trees  they  were  covered  with 
fresh  budding  flowers,  now  they  had  their  branches  bent  be- 
neath the  weight  of  their  golden  and  rosy  fruit,  which  the 
bright  glistening  foliage  could  not  hide.  The  renowned  vine 
was  heavy  with  the  richness  of  its  purple  produce,  and  the  very 
air  seemed  impregnated  with  the  sweet  aroma  of  ripe  fruit. 
She  gave  a  hasty  glance  at  the  corner  room,  and  her  heart 
beat  audibly  as  she  did  so.  She  knew  the  young  doctor  was 
not  at  home,  for  Moriz  had  informed  her  that  he  was  visiting 
his  patients  in  town,  but  a  second  glance  told  her  that  he  did 
not  live  there  now.  White  lace  curtains  hung  close  to  the 
window-panes,  a  beautiful  white  cat  lay  cozily  stretched  on 
the  window-sill  between  several  pots  of  full-blown  Alpine  roses, 
over  which  a  lady  with  snow-white  hair  was  bending,  evident- 
ly Auntie  DiakonuVs  old  friend,  who  was  to  live  with  her  when 
her  nephew  was  married.  He  had  said  farewell  then  to  his 
home.  His  things  were  packed,  and  the  next  morning  he 
would  stand  by  the  altar  by  the  side  of  her  haughty,  beautiful 
sister,  and,  "  for  better  for  worse  till  death  do  us  part,"  plight 
his  troth  to  her  who  had  promised  to  be  his,  for  the  sole  sake 
of  the  brilliant  position  the  wife  of  a  man  of  his  social  standing 
would  occupy. 

Kathe  wept  bitterly  as  she  put  her  arms  round  the  friend- 
ly poplar-tree,  and  leaned  her  aching  head  against  its  hard, 
rough  trunk.  Her  sobs  increased  as  she  thought  of  the  poor 
noble  lady  who  had  drowned  herself  in  the  river,  when  her 
heart  was  broken  and  her  lover  had  proved  himself  faithless. 
But  she  had  been  loved  once,  even  if  she  was  forsaken  for  an- 
other, while  poor  Kathe  had  to  confess  to  herself  that  she  had 
not  been  loved  at  all.  Then,  too,  the  noble  lady  had  no  si  a 
on  her  conscience,  while,  on  the  contrary,  Kathe  knew  that  she 
herself  was  guilty  at  this  moment  of  a  dull,  heavy  pain  at  her 
heart,  which  might  be  expressed  by  one  very  ugly  word, 


THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSF.  22? 


ousy,  and  the  one  she  was  jealous  of  was  her  elder  sister! 
poor  girl  bowed  her  head,  and  a  crimson  flush  mounted  to  the 
roots  of  her  hair  as  she  acknowledged  this  bitter  fact  to  herself; 
the  very  tears  she  was  shedding  seemed  to  scald  her  cheeks, 
but  she  felt  too  utterly  miserable  to  try  and  check  them.  Pres- 
ently she  was  startled  by  the  sound  of  footsteps  on  the  path 
behind  her.  Hastily  dashing  the  tears  away,  she  turned  to  see 
"vho  it  was  approaching.  It  was  Franz,  the  foreman  at  the 
mill,  who  was  going  up  to  the  tower  to  look  over  "  things 
there  a  bit/'  he  remarked,  in  passing,  as  he  touched  his  hat 
and  slung  his  basket  of  tools  tighter  over  his  shoulder. 

Not  caring  to  be  seen  by  any  one  else  who  might  happen  to 
pass  by  with  swollen  eyes  and  dejected  air  so  near  to  the  house 
by  the  river,  Kathe  began  slowly  walking  along  the  banks. 
She  had  no  desire  to  return  to  the  villa  just  yet;  there  was  still 
plenty  of  time  for  her  to  remain  out-of-doors  awhile  longer  be- 
fore dressing  for  the  evening.  She  knew  also  that  Henriette's 
toilet  would  take  long  to  perform,  and  that  the  invalid  girl 
would  rather  spend  a  couple  of  hours  in  adorning  her  person 
than  appear  in  society  without  an  amount  of  finery  on  her  thin, 
emaciated  figure,  that  heightened  instead  of  diminished  the 
terrible  inroads  of  the  disease  which  was  fast  carrying  her  to 
an  early  grave. 

Kathe  lingered  under  the  trees,  enjoying  the  quiet  and  loneli- 
ness around  her,  and  tried  to  subdue  the  longing  yearning  of 
her  heart  for  just  one  glance,  just  one  more  look  at  the  man. 
she  knew  it  was  a  sin  to  think  about  at  all,  for  was  he  not  to 
be  married  on  the  morrow  to  her  sister? 

And  while  she  stamped  her  foot  in  anger  at  her  own  weak- 
ness, she  saw  a  man  coming  toward  her  from  the  tower,  and 
driving  before  him  with  a  stick  two  small  deer.  He  wore  a 
thick  blue  workman's  blouse  under  his  coat,  which  was  only 
fastened  loosely  over  his  shoulders,  and  his  full,  reddish  beard 
reached  far  down  on  his  breast.  The  animals  trotted  docilely 
over  the  bridge,  but  the  instant  they  were  on  the  other  sido 
they  bounded  forward  into  the  depth  of  the  park. 

Most  likely  Kathe  would  not  have  noticed  the  man  —  work- 
men were  in  the  habit  of  going  to  and  from  the  tower  —  if  it 
had  not  been  for  the  deer.  She  knew  that  her  guardian  had  3 
great  affection  for  these  animals,  and  that  nothing  made  him 
more  angry  than  to  find  one  straying  from  their  special  inclos- 
ure  and  wandering  at  large  in  the  park;  and  here  was  this 
stranger  driving  two  of  the  shy  creatures  over  the  river  to  the 
forbidden  spot!  What  could  it  mean?  Was  he  one  of  those- 
^bo  had  sworn  enmity  to  the  family  at  the 


228  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

end  openly  declared  that  they  had  no  just  right  to  the  luxuries 
and  riches  surrounding  them?  Could  he  be  one  of  a  small 
band  of  rebellious  workmen  who,  as  she  had  heard,  had  deter- 
mined to  bring  down  the  pride  of  the  newly  created  noble,  and 
to  wrench  from  his  grasp  the  wealth  he  had  amassed  ? 

He  walked  leisurely  along  till  he  reached  the  heavy  park 
door,  not  so  very  far  off  to  her  right,  which  led  on  to  the  high- 
road, and  taking  a  key  from  his  pocket  unfastened  the  lock 
and  let  himself  out  as  coolly  and  deliberately  as  if  he  had  been 
the  master. 

But  while  she  watched  the  man's  movements  it  suddenly 
occurred  to  Kathe  that  his  gait  and  figure  had  a  great  resem- 
blance to  her  guardian's,  and  that  if  he  and  this  workman  had 
both  been  in  the  same  position  in  life  they  might  have  passed 
for  twins,  as  far  as  their  height,  breadth  of  shoulder,  walk, 
and  general  appearance  went,  the  only  difference  between  them 
being  that  this  man  had  fair,  reddish  hair,  while  that  of  the 
counselor  was  a  dark  auburn,  or  what  is  commonly  called 
brown. 

Involuntarily  she  stood  still,  gazing  earnestly  at  the  spot 
from  whence  the  man  in  the  blouse  had  disappeared;  then  she 
slowly  turned  her  head  and  contemplated  the  tower  on  the 
other  side  of  the  water,  and  half  unconsciously  found  herself 
admiring  the  beautiful  sweep  of  land  in  the  distance,  with  the 
grand  old  ruined  tower  standing  out  in  bold  relief  against  the 
bright  green  of  the  trees  in  the  foreground.  Suddenly  the  sky 
overhead  seemed  to  darken,  a  huge  flash  of  brilliant  light 
dazzled  her  eyes,  the  ground  beneath  her  trembled,  and  a  mo- 
ment after  a  crash  as  of  a  heavy  thunder-clap  boomed  in  her 
ears,  and  she  fell  to  the  ground  in  a  state  of  unconsciousness. 

What  was  it?  A  moment  or  two  later  and  all  those  who 
could  possibly  move  ran  out  of  the  villa  into  the  garden,  for 
the  house  was  rocking  from  the  effect  of  whatever  had  caused 
that  terrible  noise.  Could  it  be  an  earthquake?  As  if  turned 
into  stone,  those  who  had  reached  the  open  garden  path  gazed 
at  each  other  in  speechless  terror,  expecting  with  every  breath 
they  drew  that  the  earth  would  yawn  beneath  their  feet  and 
swallow  them  alive  in  its  fearful  depths.  The  lawn  and  well- 
kept  gravel  walks  were  fast  being  covered  with  water,  which 
in  some  mysterious  way  appeared  to  have  found  an  egress  from 
the  river-side.  The  air  was  heavy  with  an  odor  of  burning, 
and  the  white,  scared  faces  of  the  people  standing  in  groupa 
here  and  there  began  to  be  covered  with  smutches  of  black 
that,  by  lorce  of  contrast,  deepened  the  ashy  paleness  of  every 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  239 

fcheek,  and  the  ground  was  gradually  becoming  strewn  with 
remnants  of  burning  stuffs  and  charred  atoms  of  wood-work. 

As  the  minutes  crept  on — and  that  one  awful  crash  was  not 
followed  by  a  second,  and  the  momentary  violent  trembling 
of  the  ground  beneath  their  feet  was  succeeded  by  a  stillness 
as  terrible  to  those  able  to  think  as  the  crash  had  been  unex- 
pected—rone  and  another  began  to  look  around  to  see  and  try 
and  understand  what  it  was  indeed  that  had  happened.  The 
thick  walls  of  the  villa  were  cracked  from  top  to  bottom  in 
various  places,  and  one  side  of  the  magnificent  house  appeared 
a  complete  mass  of  ruin.  The  windows  were  all  broken  and 
their  frames  scattered  about  on  the  terrace;  the  huge  massive 
mirrors  in  the  drawing-room  were  shattered  to  atoms,  and  the 
stage  in  the  room  beyond  the  diiiing-hall  was  partly  forced 
through  the  opening  of  what  had  once  been  a  French  window. 
How  the  workmen  escaped  with  their  lives  and  without  any  in- 
jury to  themselves  was  a  question  that  always  remained  a  mys- 
tery, even  when  the  cause  of  the  catastrophe  afterward  became 
known. 

Presently  those  standing  about  began  to  recover  the  use  of 
their  speech  and  limbs,  and  were  joined  by  several  people  who 
had  hastened  to  the  house  from  the  outlying  grounds.  The 
first  to  utter  coherent  exclamations  was  Anton,  who  had  just 
arrived  from  the  town,  and  was  riding  up  the  avenue  toward 
the  house  when  the  fearful  crash  took  place.  His  horse  had 
reared  and  thrown  him,  but  beyond  a  severe  shake  he  had  not 
been  hurt,  and  now  he  came  hastily  forward  and  asked,  in  a 
hoarse  whisper: 

:<  What  is  it?    What  has  happened?" 

"  Look!  look,  madame!"  cried  one  of  the  servants,  who,  at 
the  sound  of  a  question  from  some  one  else's  lips,  seemed  to 
recover  very  rapidly  from  his  own  fright.  He  was  helping  to 
support  old  Mme.  Urach,  who,  half  fainting  from  terror,  wat 
leaning  heavily  against  Flora.  "  Look,  madame,  over  there!" 
and  he  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the  park. 

By  this  time  a  large  number  of  people  had  assembled  in 
front  of  the  house,  each  eager  to  hear  what  it  was  that  had 
happened,  and  at  the  man's  loud  exclamation  they  all  turned 
round  and  looked  in  the  direction  to  which  he  was  pointing. 

Thich  clouds  of  black  smoke  were  issuing  above  the  trees, 
their  density  relieved  every  now  and  again  by  a  flash  of  red 
lurid  light  which  leaped  like  a  gleam  of  lightning  through  the 
overhanging  darkness. 

"  The  gunpowder  in  the  tower  must  have  exploded!"  criod 
a  voice  in  the  crowd. 


230  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  Not  possible!"  cried  Anton,  laughing,  in  spite  of  his  ter- 
ror, at  the  bare  idea  of  such  an  absurd  thing  happening. 
'*  That  powder  long  ago  lost  its  power  of  exploding,  and  the 
small  quantity  the  master  brought  with  him  fresh  from  Jux 
was  not  enough  to  raise  a  stone  out  of  its  place.  What  non- 
sense you  talk,  man!" 

But  for  all  that  he  called  it  "  nonsense,"  his  face  assumed  a 
pallor  that  was  not  there  a  few  moments  ago,  as  he  remem- 
bered that  his  master  was  then  in  his  rooms  over  there,  where 
nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  the  tower  for  the  dense  columns  of 
smoke  darkening  the  horizon;  and  as  the  thought  rushed 
through  his  brain  he  turned  and  darted  off  through  the  park, 
not  heeding  the  wet,  overflowing  pathways,  or  answering  the 
questions  of  the  crowd  who  followed  his  footsteps  as  fast  as 
their  feet  would  carry  them. 

What  a  scene  of  desolation  lay  before  them!  In  the  space 
of  a  second  the  beautiful  estate  had  been  converted  into  a  heap 
of  black  ruin!  Turn  which  way  one  would,  all  was  charred, 
destroyed,  and  converted  into  a  mass  of  rubbish.  Scarcely  a 
tree  remained  standing.  On  the  right,  the  noble  avenue  of 
lindens  which  led  from  the  tower  to  the  entrance  of  the  neigh- 
boring town  presented  an  aspect  of  torn  branches  and  upturned 
roots  that  was  piteous  to  behold.  Massive  blocks  of  granite 
had  been  hurled  across  the  road,  and  large  pieces  of  half- 
burned  wood  lay  side  by  side  with  huge  stones  on  the  well-kept 
paths.  On  the  other  side,  what  had  once  been  the  elegant 
palm-house  was  now  a  mere  empty  shed  covered  with  thou- 
sands of  broken  bits  of  glass,  and  all  the  handsome  stables  and 
their  costly  occupants  seemed  to  have  disappeared  under  the 
blackened,  seething  ruins  which  still  cumbered  the  ground. 

No  wonder  the  crowd  as  they  pressed  forward  held  their 
breath  with  horror  at  the  scene  of  devastation  around  them. 
Scarcely  a  trace  of  the  grand  old  tower  remained!  The  beau- 
tiful balcony  of  ancient  workmanship  which  the  counselor  had 
had  redecorated  at  great  cost,  and  which  was  the  pride  and 
glory  of  the  surrounding  neighborhood,  had  disappeared  alto- 
gether. The  thick  stone  walls,  gray  and  beautiful  with  age, 
were  torn  and  rent  asunder  and  black  with  smoke,  and  from 
the  roof  of  the  tower  volumes  of  smoke  still  issued,  ]  ightened 
every  few  moments  by  darting  fork-like  fits  of  flame.  It  was 
impossible  to  approach  anywhere  near  the  burning  mass  for 
fear  of  some  falling  stone  or  heavy  buttress  that  dashed  itself 
to  the  ground  with  renewed  force  from  time  to  time. 

"  My  poor  master!"  murmured  Anton,  stretching  out  his 
fcands  toward  the  burning  ruins,  which  were  fast  becoming  ono 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  231 

immense  yawning  cavern,  containing  nothing  but  smoke  and 
the  charred  remains  of  what  had  once  been  the  counselor's 
luxurious  and  costly  apartments. 

Round  about  the  base  of  the  tower,  water  was  gurgling  and 
splashing  against  the  stone  walls,  and  covering  the  ground  as 
far  as  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  park.  The  same  shock  which 
had  destroyed  the  tower  and  desolated  the  whole  estate  had 
burst  the  bounds  of  the  river  and  caused  it  to  overflow  its  bankk, 
and  as  it  sunk  back  into  its  deep  bed  after  a  few  moments' 
agitation  it  carried  with  it  sand  and  roots,  and  wounded  doves, 
and  masses  of  broken  articles  of  every  description. 

Every  moment  brought  fresh  faces  to  the  ruins,  but  what 
could  they  do?  The  fire-engines  from  the  neighboring  town 
were  quickly  on  the  spot,  but  helpwas  too  late — everything  was 
lost,  there  was  nothing  to  save.  Who  would  be  foolish  enough 
to  expect  to  rescue  exquisite  furniture,  costly  sculpture,  famous 
pictures,  rich  carpets,  or  carved  ornaments  from  that  burning 
crater?  One  rich  crimson  silk  curtain  had  caught  on  the 
lower  portion  of  one  of  the  walls  and  hung  there  like  a  great 
spot''of  blood  from  a  gigantic  wound. 

And  while  they  stood  there  watching  the  burning  ruins,  the 
people  began  to  whisper  among  each  other  of  concealed  treas- 
ures— of  gold  and  silver  hoarded  up  within  the  vast  caves  of 
that  blackened  ruin.  Yet  no,  it  was  not  money  but  money's 
worth,  some  one  remarked,  who  appeared,  from  the  expres- 
sion on  his  face,  of  a  more  intelligent  turn  of  mind  than  many 
others  there  present — papers  of  enormous  value,  securities, 
mortgages,  and  such  like  tilings,  which  had  been  placed  inside 
those  once  massive  walls,  and  hidden  in  heavy  old-fashioned 
iron  chests,  knowing  that  there  they  would  be  safer  than  in 
any  bank.  Where  were  they  now?  Where  were  the  walls 
which  had  formerly  protected  them?  It  was  useless  to  ask;  all 
was  ingulfed  in  that  frightful  yawning  cavern,  or  scattered 
in  a  thousand  useless  fragments  to  the  four  winds. 

What,  too,  had  become  of  the  master  of  all  this  enormous 
wealth,  who,  according  to  Anton's  statement,  had  entered  the 
tower  about  an  hour  previous  to  the  catastrophe  for  the  pur- 
pose of  drawing  wine  for  the  evening's  feast?  Many  a  blanched 
face  peered  hopelessly  into  the  burning  embers,  holding  their 
breath,  while  the  faithful  body-servant  bemoaned  his  master's 
loss,  and  every  now  and  again  rent  the  air  with  a  piercing  call 
on  his  master's  name,  running  hither  and  thither,  now  calling 
over  the  water,  then  raising  his  voice  still  louder,  with  a  de- 
spairing accent  of  entreaty,  as  if  the  counselor  were  there  and 
Deeded  coaxing  to  be  persuaded  to  leave  the  ruins. 


232  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  How  could  any  one  be  so  foolish  as  to  enter  a  vault  wife 
a  light  in  his  hand,  where  gunpowder  in  large  quantities  was 
kept?" 

But  that  historical  gunpowder  could  not  have  exploded  of 
itself — it  had  been  there  too  many  hundred  years;  some  more 
must  have  been  added  to  the  old,"  remarked  one  of  the  by- 
standers in  a  loud  voice — an  engineer  too,  who  was  known  to 
most  of  the  crowd  present  as  a  man  able  to  speak  with  the  au- 
thority of  knowledge  and  learning. 

"  Then  how  the  devil  did  it  get  into  the  vault?"  asked  An- 
ton, standing  still  for  a  moment  and  eying  the  speaker  with 
suspicion,  his  haggard  face  looking  still  more  haggard  and 
worn,  with  the  fresh  idea  of  doubt  and  suspicion  raised  by  the 
engineer's  manner  visible  in  his  countenance. 

The  gentleman  did  not  reply,  but  shrugged  his  shoulders, 
and  drew  back  out  of  the  way  of  the  fire-engine  water-pipes, 
which  had  begun  to  work  on  the  side  near  him.  Engine  after 
engine  arrived  in  answer  to  the  summons  from  the  bell  in  the 
nearest  church  tower,  but  too  late  to  rescue  things  from  de- 
struction, so  several  of  the  men  left  off  applying  the  water- 
pipes  and  gave  a  helping  hand  to  raising  a  new  temporary 
bridge  over  the  river  in  place  of  the  old  one,  which  had  been 
completely  blown  away. 

Presently  a  wild  cry  arose  from  the  midst  of  the  crowd 
around  the  ruined  tower.  Not  very  far  from  the  spot  where 
the  men  were  at  work  on  the  bridge,  the  body  of  Franz,  the 
foreman  at  the  mill,  was  discovered,  lying  mangled  and  dead, 
half  concealed  by  a  large  stone  which  had  evidently  fallen  upon 
him  when  the  explosion  took  place  and  crushed  him. 

Mme.  Urach  heard  the  cry  from  a  bench  under  the  trees  in 
the  garden,  where  she  had  sunk  down  exhausted  and  fright- 
ened, after  escaping  from  the  house  when  the  shock  took  place. 
She  had  been  unable  to  move  a  step  further;  she  seemed 
thoroughly  unnerved,  and  to  have  no  power  to  understand 
even  what  had  happened. 

The  cry  raised  by  the  people  near  the  tower  seemed  to  rouse 
her;  she  tried  to  get  up,  but  her  limbs  refused  to  obey. 

"  Moriz,  have  they  found  him?"  she  murmured  as  one  in  a 
dream.  Then  making  a  great  effort  she  asked:  "  Have  they 
seen  him?  Listen,  Flora!  listen  to  that  cry;  he  is  not  dead, 
is  he,  dear?"  she  demanded,  as  she  seized  hold  of  her  grand-- 
daughter's arm,  who  was  standing  near  her,  and  looked  up 
piteously  in  her  face. 

It  was  a  sad  scene  that  Flora  gazed  round  upon  in  her  usual 
boughty  manner.  In  the  distance,  over  the  trees,  clouds  of 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  233 

61ack  smoke  circled  Tip  to  the  sky;  in  the  park,  under  the 
trees,  the  ground  was  flooded  with  the  overflowing  river;  and 
near  at  hand,  in  the  large  open  space  in  front  of  the  villa, 
thousands  of  broken  pieces  of  glass  strewed  the  lawn,  over 
which  hung  the  balcony  filled  with  beautiful  flowere.  rich  sweet 
orange-trees,  and  bright-colored  plants — perhaps  the  only  part 
of  the  house  which  had  entirely  escaped  injury.  At  the  bot- 
»m  of  the  lawn  several  small  streams  of  water,  supplied  from 
the  constantly  playing  water-pipes,  had  formed  themselves 
into  a  miniature  lake,  which  was  muddy  and  dark-colored 
from  the  sand  and  other  floating  debris  mixing  with  each 
stream  as  it  passed  over  the  ground,  and  joined  the  others  in 
this  sloping  portion  of  the  estate.  Not  one  of  the  trimly  kept 
garden-paths  was  visible  to  the  eye;  even  the  far-famed  avenue 
of  linden-trees  was  littered  from  one  end  to  the  other  with 
torn  branches,  blackened  fragments  of  granite,  and  upturned 
roots  of  trees.  In  the  midst  of  this  desolating  scene  Flora 
stood,  robed  in  white,  with  white  flowers  in  her  golden  hair, 
her  cheeks  and  lips  as  white  as  her  dress,  and  her  demeanor  as 
calm  and  collected  as  though  she  were  gazing  on  a  scene  of 
ordinary  interest,  instead  of  on  the  complete  ruin  and  de- 
struction of  everything  the  family  possessed  in  the  world. 

Her  lip  curled  indignantly  at  the  visible  sign  of  weakness  in 
her  aged  grandmother,  who  had  always  impressed  upon  her 
granddaughters  the  worldly  wisdom  of  never,  under  any  trying 
circumstances,  losing  their  self-possession,  and  now  seemed 
utterly  helpless  herself  in  the  confusion  reigning  around  her. 
Why  need  Flora  trouble  about  a  few  panes  of  broken  glass,  or 
the  blowing  up  of  an  old  ruin  that  her  brother-in-law  had 
fitted  up  at  great  cost,  and  made  habitable  for  himself  and 
servant?  On  the  morrow  she  would  start  on  her  new  career 
as  the  wife  of  the  most  celebrated  physician  of  the  court.  It 
was  tiresome,  certainly,  that  all  this  strange  tumult,  the  grave 
results  of  which  she  had  not  as  yet  cared  to  inquire  into,  should 
have  occurred  on  the  eve  of  her  wedding,  but — 

"  I  wish  you  would  let  go  my  arm,  grandmamma!'*  she  said, 
impatiently,  in  answer  to  the  old  lady's  eager  questioning  respect- 
ing her  grandson-in-law's  safety.  "  I  think  you  must  have  lost 
your  wits,  and  fancy  you  see  phantoms.  Why  need  Moriz  have 
met  with  an  accident?  Bah!  what  an  idea! — he,  too,  who  is 
always  so  lucky!  I  am  perfectly  convinced  that  he  is  as  safe 
and  well  as  I  am,  giving  orders  to  those  thoughtless  servants, 
who  seem  to  have  completely  forgotten  our  existence,  and  who 
are  screaming  and  flying  about  down  there  as  if  they  werO 
mad,  and  I  have  no  doubt  do  not  see  their  master  a  yard  oft 


234  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  * 

I  must  go  and  see  what  they  are  making  such  a  noise  about. w 
She  glanced  over  the  wet  lawn  and  still  more  flooded  garden- 
path,  and  then  at  her  light  shoes;  but  after  a  second's  hesita- 
tion she  lifted  her  tarletan  skirt  with  a  despairing  shrug  of 
the  shoulders,  and  said: 

"  I  dare  say  they  will  think  I  have  lost  my  wits  also,  but  I 
must  go. " 

"  No,  no;  you  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind;  you  remain 
^ith  me,"  cried  Mme.  Urach,  in  a  beseeching  tone,  catching 
at  the  folds  of  Flora's  dress  and  holding  her  back.  "  You 
surely  don't  mean  to  be  so  heartless  as  to  leave  me  alone  with 
Henriette,  who  is  more  helpless  than  I  am,  and  can  not  stir 
herself,  poor  child.  Oh,  God !  I  shall  die,  I  think.  If  he  is 
dead — if — ah,  what  then?"  and  the  poor  old  lady  drooped  her 
head  on  her  bosom  covered  with  sparkling  diamonds,  and 
seemed  to  have  aged  in  appearance  twenty  years  since  the 
morning.  Her  yellow  satin  dress  was  a  strange  contrast  to 
her  ashen-gray  face  and  decrepit  attitude. 

Henriette  had  cowered  down  at  her  grandmother's  feet,  her 
face  as  pale  as  her  sister's,  while  her  large  eyes  wandered 
from  one  side  of  the  scene  of  desolation  to  the  ether,  as  she 
constantly  muttered: 

"Kathe!  where  is  Kathe?"  and  her  lips  trembled  and  the 
words  were  spoken  as  if  it  were  a  lesson  repeated  by  rote. 

"  Good  gracious  me!  I  shall  lose  my  patience  soon,"  Flora 
murmured  between  her  teeth.  "It  is  terrible  to  be  thus 
hampered  with  such  helpless  women.  Really,  Henriette,  I 
must  entreat  you  to  cease  that  eternal  moan  for  your  Kathe. 
No  one  will  steal  her  from  you,  no  fear  of  that." 

With  increasing  impatience  she  glanced  up  at  the  house  to 
see  if  there  was  any  one  at  hand  to  take  her  place,  and  stay  by 
her  grandmother  and  sister  while  she  followed  out  her  inclina- 
tion and  walked  over  to  the  tower  to  hear  what  had  really  hap- 
pened. But  not  a  human  being  was  within  calling  distance. 
Every  one  had  gone  off  to  the  tower — visitors,  footmen,  serv- 
ants, even  dainty  ladies'-maids  had  tucked  up  their  petticoats 
and  waded  through  the  rushing  water  across  the  park  to  the 
scene  of  the  disaster.  Turning  her  head  in  the  direction  op- 
posite to  the  one  leading  from  the  town,  she  saw  two  or  three 
ladies,  who  were  to  take  part  in  the  private  theatricals  of  the 
evening,  coming  toward  the  spot  where  she  stood. 

"For  God's  sake,  tell  us  what  has  happened!"  cried  the 
foremost  young  lady,  as  she  neared  the  group. 

Flora  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  There  has  been  an  explosion  in  the  tower;  that  is  all  v;o 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  235 

know  at  present.  Every  one  has  gone  mad,  no  one  will  give 
a  lucid  answer,  and  here  am  I  tied  to  this  spot  because  grand- 
mamma has  lost  her  head,  and  in  her  exaggerated  anxiety 
about  Moriz  is  tearing  my  skirts  from  off  my  body.  She  has 
taken  it  into  her  head  that  he  is  blown  up  too. ' ' 

The  young  girls  seemed  to  turn  into  stone  at  this  terrible 
conjecture  and  at  the  heartless  cold-blooded  manner  in  which 
it  was  uttered.  That  the  handsome,  healthy  man  who  had  so 
gayly  challenged  them  to  drink  to  the  toast  of  a  "  long,  happy 
life  "  not  a  couple  of  hours  ago  could  be  reduced  to  a  mass  of 
fragments  was  a  fact  they  could  not  realize  at  a  moment's 
notice.  They  were  too  horrified  to  utter  a  sound,  and  all 
Fraulein  von  Grise  could  bring  her  lips  to  pronounce  was  a 
feeble: 

"Impossible!" 

"  Impossible?  you  say  impossible?"  exclaimed  Mme.  Urach, 
with  an  hysterical  laugh  and  a  sigh  as  she  rose  to  her  feet, 
and  while  tottering  as  if  drunk,  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the 
park.  "  There!  there!  They  are  bringing  him!  My  God!  my 
God!  Moriz!  Moriz!" 

A  group  of  people  were  advancing  toward  the  house,  carry- 
ing a  form  on  a  stretcher  improvised  for  the  occasion,  in  the 
midst  of  whom  Dr.  Bruck's  tall  figure  could  be  distinctly  seen. 
He  was  without  his  hat,  and  his  face  was  very  pale. 

Flora  sprung  forward,  while  her  grandmother  burst  into  a 
flood  of  tears.  As  soon  as  they  recognized  the  white-robed 
bride-elect,  and  divined  her  errand  in  thus  hurrying  toward 
them,  the  men  who  were  carrying  the  stretcher  drew  back  and 
allowed  her  to  step  to  the  side  of  the  motionless  figure  on  the 
board.  One  glance  sufficed  for  her  purpose,  and  then  she  in 
her  turn  drew  back  and  cried  out  to  her  grandmother: 

"  Be  comforted,  grandmother!    It  is  not  Moriz." 

"  Then  it  is  Kathe — I  knew  it  was,"  murmured  Henriette, 
hi  an  awed  whisper,  that  sounded  as  if  it  came  from  beneath 
Mie  ground,  so  hollow  and  unnatural  was  the  tone  of  her  voice. 

And  she  was  right.  It  was  Kathe  who  was  lying  on  the 
plank,  her  clothes  dripping  with  wet,  and  her  head  supported 
by  soft  pillows  taken  from  the  doctor's  study.  But  for  the 
linen  bandage  on  her  head  and  a  few  drops  of  blood  on  her  left 
cheek  one  might  have  supposed  she  was  asleep,  her  lids  were 
closed  so  naturally,  and  her  hands  lay  so  unconstrainedly  on 
her  lap. 

"What  has  happened  to  Kathe,  Leo?  How  on  earth  did 
she  get  wounded  in  the  explosion?  What  did  she  want  down 
there  at  all?"  asked  Flora,  stooping  over  the  prostrate  figure. 


236  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

ind  evincing  far  more  anger  than  sorrow  at  her  young  step- 
sister's misfortune  or  accident,  whichever  it  might  turn  out  to 
be. 

The  young  doctor's  face  flushed  scarlet  at  his  betrothed's 
first  question,  but  he  controlled  himself,  and,  pressing  his  lips 
firmly  together,  made  no  attempt  to  answer,  and  looked  past 
her  to  the  spot  where  Henriette  was  crouching  down,  too  horri- 
fied and  terror-stricken  to  move. 

But  the  sound  of  Flora's  voice  seemed  to  bring  back  her 
scattered  senses;  she  rose  from  her  huddlcd-up  position,  and 
holding  the  doctor's  arm,  she  whispered,  as  well  as  her  short 
breathing  would  let  her: 

"  Only  one  word,  Leo;  is  she  alive?"  and  her  large  eyes 
looked  imploringly  up  into  his  as  she  tightened  her  grasp  on 
his  arm. 

"  Yes;  the  fresh  air  and  loss  of  blood  have  saved  her;  the 
only  danger  now  is  from  her  wet  clothes.  Thank  God  the 
wound  on  her  head  is  not  dangerous,"  he  replied,  with  a  deep 
sigh  of  intense  relief,  and  he  put  his  arm  gently  and  kindly 
round  the  weak  girl's  waist  and  half  carried  her  up  to  the 
house,  after  he  had  ordered  the  bearers  of  Kathe's  lifeless  form 
to  precede  him. 

The  crowd  followed  for  a  few  steps  further,  then  quietly 
dropped  off,  one  by  one,  to  return  to  the  more  exciting  scene  of 
the  disaster.  Mme.  Urach,  who  had  scarcely  recovered  suffi- 
ciently from  her  anxiety  about  the  counselor  to  take  much 
heed  to  what  was  going  on  around  her,  allowed  herself  to  be 
led  back  to  the  house  without  any  open  remonstrance.  The 
girls  who  were  to  have  joined  in  the  theatricals  followed  be- 
hind, watching  with  wondering  eyes  the  young  doctor's  be- 
havior, who  appeared  to  be  unable  to  notice  anything  but 
Kathe's  fainting  form.  Still  holding  Henriette  round  the 
waist,  he  walked  by  the  side  of  the  stretcher,  with  his  free  hand 
laid  gently  on  Kathe's  forehead  to  judge  if  the  movement  of 
the  bearers  was  causing  her  any  pain.  The  usually  shy,  re- 
served man,  who  lately  had  been  graver  and  more  reserved  in 
manner  than  before,  watched  each  breath  of  the  wounded  girl 
with  a  tender  solicitude  and  all-absorbing  gaze  as  if  she  were 
all  the  world  to  him,  as  if  the  dearest  and  best-beloved  being 
the  earth  and  life  contained  for  him  had  just  been  rescued 
from  death  by  his  preserving  hand. 

Flora  followed  behind,  silently  and  alone,  as  if  she  had  no 
relationship  with  the  three  figures  forming  the  center  of  the 
group  in  advance.  Her  feet  and  skirts  were  wet,  and  the 
jatter  trailed  along  the  daam  gravel  pathway,  becoming  dirtier 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  23? 

and  heavier  with  each  step,  but  she  took  no  heed  of  anything. 
With  a  sudden  rash  movement  she  snatched  the  wreath  of 
daisies  she  wore  in  her  hair  from  her  head,  and  mechanically 
tore  them  to  shreds  with  her  fingers,  as  if  angry  at  the  irony  of 
fate  which  had  brought  her  into  such  a  strange  position,  in  a 
toilet  that  was  intended  to  adorn  her  person  at  the  moment  of 
her  greatest  triumph  in  life. 

She  also  appeared  wrapped  in  her  own  thoughts,  and  noticed 
no  one  as  she  slowly  walked  along  but  the  tall  imposing  figure 
of  her  lover.  She  waited  from  moment  to  moment,  expecting 
him  to  turn  round  and  come  to  her  side;  but  she  was  doomed 
to  disappointment,  and  she  followed  on  step  by  step  with  an 
eager  angry  light  in  her  eyes,  till  they  reached  the  threshold 
of  the  door.  Her  grandmother  spoke  to  her,  but  she  did  not 
appear  to  hear;  she  turned  neither  to  the  right  nor  left,  took 
no  heed  of  those  who  pressed  around  her,  but  with  that  same 
angry  gleam  in  her  eyes  which  was  there  in  the  park,  followed 
her  lover  up  the  steps,  into  the  hall,  even  as  far  as  the  first 
floor,  and  into  the  room  where  Kathe,  still  unconscious,  Avas 
gently  laid  down  on  a  bed  by  the  young  doctor's  strong  arms. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  night  which  succeeded  to  this  day  of  horrors  was  one 
long  anxious  vigil  for  every  one  in  the  villa.  No  one  went  to 
bed,  the  gas  was  kept  lighted  in  all  the  rooms,  the  servants 
went  about  on  tiptoe  or  stood  whispering  in  groups  in  various 
corners,  and  each  time  the  night-watchman^  step  was  heard 
tramping  on  the  gravel  path,  or  a  door  upstairs  was  softly 
opened,  every  one  of  them  would  start  and  run  to  the  hall 
door  hoping  and  expecting  against  hope  that  it  was  the  mas- 
ter's arrival;  but  the  night  wore  away  and  the  morning  light 
dawned  through  the  windows — and  still  he  did  not  come. 

The  sun  rose  clear  and  bright,  and  shone  unimpeded  into 
every  room  on  that  side  of  the  house,  for  no  one  had  thought 
overnight  of  drawing  curtains  and  pulling  down  blinds  before 
glassless  window  places,  now  glistening  on  a  million  of  broken 
pieces  of  mirror  strewing  the  floor  in  one  apartment,  and  then 
flashing  golden  rays  across  the  decorated  ball-room,  now  a 
complete  mass  of  ruin,  kissing  the  crimson  velvet  of  the  canopy 
into  a  glorious  flush  of  color,  and  warming  the  pale  tints  of 
the  orange-blossoms  of  the  bridal-dress  through  the  rosy  gauze 
of  an  overhanging  festoon. 

The  velvet  and  gold  and  silver  decorations,  rare  Venetian 
glass  and  luscious  fruit  were  l^ine  side  by  side  in  the  dining- 


238  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

room  in  hopeless  confusion.  One  shock,  and  the  fairy  scene 
had  been  changed  in-to  a  tangled  heap  of  fragments  that  was 
piteous  to  behold.  Verses  were  left  unspoken,  and  in  the 
room  where  gold-winged  angels  were  to  have  uttered  high- 
sounding  praises  of  the  queen  of  the  evening,  and  fairy  feet 
were  to  have  flitted  through  the  mazes  of  the  bridal  dance,  the 
cold  morning  wind  moaned  through  the  broken  walls  and 
rattled  the  fragments  of  the  window-sills  to  and  fro  in  restles? 
monotonous  impatience. 

It  was  perhaps  this  morning,  for  the  first  time  since  the  villa 
had  owned  a  master,  that  the  sun  had  been  able  to  peep  un- 
abashed through  the  unclosed  shutters  and  wander  in  free  de- 
light to  every  corner  of  the  large  and  costly  furnished  room 
belonging  to  Mme.  Urach,  stopping  to  play  for  a  moment 
round  about  the  silk  curtains  of  her  carved  bed  before  darting 
to  the  other  side,  and  dancing  over  the  amber  skirts,  and 
flashing  a  thousand  brilliant  lights  from  the  diamond  necklace 
the  old  lady  still  wore  round  her  throat. 

With  loose  cap  strings,  and  disheveled  hair,  and  torn  lace, 
Mme.  Urach  rose  and  slowly  began  pacing  up  and  down  the 
floor.  She  was  aged — older  in  reality  than  those  people  sup- 
posed her  to  be  who  merely  saw  her  dressed  of  an  evening — and 
yet  the  one  thought  which  occupied  her  mind  now  had  occu- 
pied it  all  night,  to  the  exclusion  of  everything  else,  and  which 
had  excited  her  to  such  a  degree  that  sleep  had  been  out  of  the 
question;  this  one  thought,  framed  in  coherent  words,  was, 

Who  was  the  counselor's  heir?"  She  was  aware  that  she 
herself  had  no  claim  to  anything  that  could  be  saved  from  the 
general  wreck,  not  even  to  the  bed  on  which  she  slept,  or  to 
the  cup  from  which  she  drank. 

The  counselor  had  been  early  left  an  orphan,  and,  as  far  as 
she  knew,  he  had  not  a  relative  in  the  world,  unless  a  poor 
sister  of  his  mother's,  whom  he  had  often  assisted,  was  alive 
still.  Would  she  be  his  heir?  He  had  no  children,  and  if 
this  poor,  obscure  person,  who  had  helped  to  support  herself 
by  sewing  to  eke  out  the  miserable  pittance  her  unfortunate 
husband  had  contrived  to  leave  behind  him — if  she  were  to 
become  heiress  to  all  this  colossal  wealth,  then  it  would  be 
very  hard — very  hard — indeed,  for  the  old  lady  and  her  grand- 
daughters in  the  future.  For  Mme.  Urach  and  Flora  and 
Henriette  were  only  relatives  by  marriage  to  the  rich  coun- 
selor, and  having  no  claim  to  his  property,  he  having  died 
without  a  will,  they  would  be  forced  to  leave  the  luxury  around 
them,  and  go  and  live  in  an  obscure  lodging  on  very  straitened 
means.  The  old  lady  shuddered  as  she  reflected  that  she 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  239 

Diight  be  forced  to  go  without  softly  lined  carriages  and  high- 
bred horses;  that  she  would  no  longer  be  waited  upon  by 
finished  servants,  or  be  able  to  tempt  her  failing  appetite  with 
all  the  delicacies  of  the  season,  and  that  the  princely  entertain- 
ments she  had  so  long  presided  over  would  take  to  themselves 
wings  and  fly  away. 

Two  or  three  of  the  gentlemen  living  in  the  neighborhood 
^iad  remained  with  the  old  lady  till  midnight  the  previous 
evening,  and  although  this  same  vexed  question  had  not  been 
referred  to  in  plain  terms,  yet  the  conversation  hal  naturally 
fallen  on  the  consequences  likely  to  accrue  from  the  loss  of  the 
many  valuable  papers  and  documents  known  to  have  been 
placed  in  the  strong-boxes  in  the  tower,  and  of  which  not  one 
shred  or  fragment  could  be  found,  or  even  expected  to  be 
found  among  the  ruins. 

But,  even  if  the  bulk  of  the  counselor's  immense  fortune 
had  been  blown  into  the  air,  would  not  the  contents  of  the 
villa  itself  realize  a  sum  of  considerable  value? 

The  house  had  been  shaken  and  most  of  the  glass  destroyed 
by  the  shock  of  the  explosion,  but  the  iron  room  had  not 
suffered,  and  that  room  contained  the  costly  silver,  which  in 
itself  was  a  small  fortune.  Besides,  the  most  valuable  of  the 
horses,  the  half  dozen  thorough-breds,  whose  quarters  were  on 
the  side  of  the  villa  furthest  from  the  tower,  had  received  so 
little  damage— in  fact  had  scarcely  felt  the  effect  of  the  ex- 
plosion at  all;  and  they  would  sell  for  a  sum  worthy  of  a  king's 
ransom.  And  the  pictures  and  other  works  of  art — all,  all 
would  realize  a  sufficient  fortune  to  enable  Mme.  Urach  to 
enjoy  to  the  end  of  her  life  the  luxuries  she  was  accustomed 
to,  if  only  she  could  prove  that  the  same  blood  ran  in  her 
veins  as  in  her  late  grandson-in-law's,  Herr  von  Romer! 

The  conversation  had  also  turned  on  Kathe,  who  was  lying 
upstairs  in  Henriette's  room. 

The  papers  concerning  her  enormous  fortune  had  also  been 
kept  in  the  tower,  and  the  gentlemen  had  spent  some  little 
time  in  discussing  the  probabilities  of  its  complete  loss;  but 
Mme.  Urach  had  paid  no  attention  to  that  part  of  the  conver- 
sation; what  did  it  matter  to  her  that  the  castle  miller's  ill- 
reputed  wealth  had  disappeared? — all  she  thought  of  was: 
"  Who  was  Moriz's  heir  in  point  of  law?"  And  when  she 
retired  to  her  room  the  same  question  revolved  in  her  mind, 
to  the  exclusion,  as  we  have  already  said,  of  every  other 
thought  or  interest. 

And  Flora?  Late  on  the  previous  evening  she  had  crossed 
the  upper  corridor  and  ascended  the  grand  staircase,  with 


240  IN  TSE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

anger  and  bitter  vexation  expressed  on  her  beautiful  face.  T« 
her  deep  and  intense  indignation  she  had  been  forced  to  play 
the  part  of  a  person  who  was  not  wanted  in  the  so-called 
"  sick-room  "  upstairs.  Besides  Henriette,  who  had  curled 
herself  on  a  sofa  and  obstinately  refused  to  leave  Kathe's 
presence  till  consciousness  returned,  "  Auntie  Diakonus  "  had 
taken  quiet  possession  of  the  room,  and  installed  herself  as 
head  nurse.  She  had  been  obliged  to  seek  shelter  at  the  villa, 
for  the  house  by  the  river-side  had  been  terribly  shattered  by 
the  explosion,  and  the  south  wall  so  undermined,  besides  the 
roof  being  completely  blown  off,  that  it  would  not  have  been 
safe  for  a  human  being  to  remain  in  it.  Fortunately,  she  and 
her  friend  were  far  away  on  the  high-road  when  the  shock 
took  place,  and  the  maid  was  in  the  garden,  out  of  reach  of 
falling  stones,  or  perhaps  all  three  would  have  met  their  death 
by  the  f  ailing  of  the  roof  and  the  breaking  in  of  the  south 
wall. 

Early  in  the  evening  the  young  doctor  had  sent  for  his  aunt, 
told  her  to  request  her  friend  and  their  servant  to  seek  a 
night's  lodging  at  the  Mill-house,  and  begged  her  to  send  one 
of  the  watchmen  to  guard  the  house,  while  she  herself  came 
and  attended  to  Kathe,  who  would  require  tender  and  careful 
nursing  for  the  next  twenty-four  hours.  She  had  obeyed  her 
nephew's  direction  and  then  taken  up  her  position  at  the  head 
of  Kathe's  bed,  to  wait  and  watch  for  the  return  of  conscious- 
ness, weeping  bitter  tears  the  while.  Every  now  and  then  she 
broke  out  into  half-stifled  expressions  of  fear  that  the  "  apple 
of  her  eye  ' '  would  never  recover  from  the  effects  of  a  wound 
on  her  head,  in  spite  of  the  young  doctor's  constant  assurance 
that  if  she  were  only  kept  quiet  in  a  few  hours  she  would  open 
her  eyes  and  recognize  those  around  her. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  bed  Dr.  Bruck  sat  on  a  chair,  hold- 
ing Kathe 's  hand,  which  he  quietly  laid  on  the  sheets. each 
time  he  thought  it  necessary  to  change  the  cold-water  bandage 
on  her  head.  Such  an  amount  of  attention  to  and  interest  in 
the  granddaughter  of  a  wood-cutter's  daughter  irritated  Flora 
beyond  endurance.  The  gentle  whisperings  between  "  auntie  " 
and  nephew,  regardless  of  her  presence,  made  her  so  indignant 
with  the  latter,  added  to  the  persistent  way  in  which  he  ignored 
her  very  existence  near  him  in  the  room,  that  she  proudly  re- 
tired, and  sought  the  shelter  of  her  own  apartments,  wherein 
to  vent  her  anger  and  rage  unobserved. 

She,  like  the  rest  of  the  excited  household,  had  no  thought 
of  going  to  bed.  She  changed  her  white  tulle  dress  for  a  be- 
coming dressing-gown  of  cashmere  and  gold,  put  her  cold  feet 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  241 

into  dainty  velvet-embroidered  slippers,  and  threw  herself 
down  on  the  sofa  to  try  and  calm  her  excited  nerves  with  an 
hour's  sleep. 

Although  her  favorite  room  had  miraculously  escaped  all 
damage  from  the  explosion  but  one  cracked  pane  of  glass,  the 
apartment  was  in  a  state  of  confusion  from  one  end  to  the 
other.  The  ebony  writing-table  was  strewn  with  odds  and 
ends  of  papers,  and  every  drawer  open  and  empty.  Packages 
of  various  kinds  were  lying  on  the  carpet;  books  had  been 
taken  from  their  places  on  the  shelves,  and  were  piled  in  care- 
less disorder  in  one  corner  of  the  room,  evidently  waiting  to 
be  packed  in  the  empty  cases  near  at  hand.  The  usual  soft- 
tinted  light  of  her  crystal  lamp  was  missing  from  the  room, 
and  on  the  table  stood  a  bronze  bracket  of  wax-candles,  which 
one  of  the  servants  had  hastily  placed  there,  the  flickering, 
uncertain  light  of  which  seemed  to  add  to  the  confusion  in  the 
elegant  but  untidy  apartment. 

When  the  morning  sun  had  risen  high  enough  to  penetrate 
the  recesses  of  her  room,  Flora  rose  from  her  recumbent  posi- 
tion, extinguished  the  candles,  and  sent  a  message  to  Dr. 
Bruck  to  the  effect  that  she  wished  to  see  him.  Five  minutes 
later  she  heard  his  firm  tread  crossing  the  hall.  She  gave  one 
hasty  glance  at  herself  in  the  glass,  arranged  a  stray  curl 
under  the  lace  cap  she  had  placed  on  her  head,  and  then  laid 
her  pale,  marble-looking  face  on  the  red  cushion  of  the  sofa, 
drew  her  cashmere  dressing-gown  closer  around  her,  and  anx- 
iously gazed  at  the  door  through  which  her  lover  would  enter. 

He  opened  the  door,  and  there  was  something  in  his  quiet, 
dignified  manner  which  she  had  never  noticed  before,  and  which 
made  her  involuntarily  rise  from  the  sofa  to  greet  him,  as  if 
he  had  been  a  stranger  whom  she  had  never  seen  before. 

"  I  am  not  well,  Leo/'  she  began,  hesitatingly,  unable  to 
withdraw  her  gaze  from  the  pale,  handsome  face  before  her, 
which  seemed  to  have  gained  a  new  beauty  of  expression  since 
she  last  saw  it  that  she  could  not  quite  understand.  "  My 
head  aches,  and  I  think  that  yesterday's  excitement  and  my 
feet  getting  wet  have  given  me  a  chill  and  made  me  feverish, 
she  added,  as  he  looked  at  her  with  the  calm  scrutinizing  gaze 
of  a  physician. 

The  calm  look  irritated  her,  her  face  flushed  and  her  lips 
trembled  with  the  effort  she  made  to  control  her  feelings,  as 
she  said: 

"  Take  care  what  you  are  doing,  Leo!  I  have  been  very 
patient  for  these  last  three  or  four  months,  during  which  you 
have  been  so  wrapped  up.  in  your  patients  that  you  have  had 


24*  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

no  time  to  spend  with  me  at  all. "  Shrugging  her  shoulders,, 
she  went  on:  "  But  then,  I  suppose,  that  will  be  my  fate;  and 
I  am  prepared  to  submit  to  seeing  very  little  of  you,  and  I 
comfort  myself  by  knowing  that  the  more  devoted  you  are  to 
your  profession  the  greater  the  fame  attaching  to  the  name  I 
am  to  bear."  And  she  turned  her  head  slightly  from  one  side 
to  the  other,  as  if  she  already  saw  before  her  the  chief  portion 
of  the  society  over  which  she  was  to  shed  the  luster  of  her 
future  husband's  fame.  Scarcely  noticing  the  color  which 
mounted  to  his  brow,  she  continued:  "  But  the  moment  there 
is  anything  the  matter  with  me  I  protest  strongly  against  your 
outside  patients  being  considered  first.  We  are  all  more  or  less 
suffering  from  this  fearful  explosion,  and — poor  me! — I  had 
to  comfort  and  sustain  grandmamma,  and  Henriette  into  the 
bargain,  while  half  dead  with  fright  myself — they  were  both 
as  helpless  as  babies.  And  yet  you  have  not  once  thought  it 
worth  while  to  inquire  how  I  bear  the  shock  we  had  yester- 
day." 

"  I  did  not  inquire  because  I  knew  you  to  have  such  control 
over  your  feelings  that  you  would  not  have  allowed  any  such 
weakness  to  overtake  you  as  to  be  frightened  tinder  the  cir- 
cumstances; and  then  it  only  required  one  glance  at  your  face 
to  convince  me  that  your  nerves  and  body  were  as  sound  and 
undisturbed  as  usual." 

The  tone  of  his  voice  was  the  same  as  ever — quiet,  ringing 
and  deep;  but  the  beautiful  woman  noticed  that  his  breath 
came  quickly  and  with  difficulty,  as  if  his  heart  were  beating 
faster  than  usual. 

"  You  are  wrong  in  your  latter  surmise,  for  my  temples  are 
throbbing  and  my  nerves  are  upset;  but  you  are  right  as  re- 
gards the  first.  I  never  lose  control  over  my  feelings;  or,  if  I 
do,  I  recover  them  as  quickly  as  possible,  so  as  to  be  in  a  fit 
state  to  act  with  some  amount  of  reason.  If  I  may  judge, 
however,  from  your  tone,  you  do  not  seem  to  admire  that 
quality  in  me,  although  you  ought  to  be  glad  I  possess  it  to- 
day, of  all  days  in  the  year,  especially  when  I  tell  you  that  I 
have  never  allowed  myself  to  be  persuaded  into  speculating 
with  the  capital  of  the  solid  but  small  fortune  papa  left  me. 
If  I  had  been  in  the  habit  of  letting  my  feelings  run  away  with 
my  discretion  when  I  was  in  Moriz's  rooms  at  the  tower,  I 
should  stand  before  you  to-day  a  penniless  bride — my  portion 
would  have  shared  the  fate  of  the  rest  of  the  paper  fortune, 
and  have  been  blown  up.  Don't  look  so  shocked,  Leo,"  she 
added,  lowering  her  voice;  "  I  have  not  been  duped,  and  I  call 
things  by  their  right  name.  Grandmamma  is  tearing  about 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  243 

upstairs  and  wringing  her  hands,  because  this  princely  estate 
is  likely  to  pass  out  of  her  hands  into  a  stranger's.  Our  amia- 
ble guests  have  been  bemoaning  and  bewailing  the  fate  of 
Dame  Fortune's  favorite  child  in  such  a  tragic  death,  till  I 
left  the  drawing-room  late  last  night  in  disgust,  for  I  say  that 
yesterday's  theatrical  departure  from  this  world  had  been  ar- 
ranged fo'r  some  time.  Yes,  you  may  stare;  but  there  was  a 
whisper  afloat  yesterday  among  the  workmen  that  Moriz's 
affairs  were  in  a  desperate  condition,  and  very  shortly — per- 
haps even  to-day — the  whisper  might  have  been  changed  into 
certainty,  and  our  merchant  prince,  the  noble  counselor,  pro- 
claimed not  only  a  dishonorable  speculator,  but  a  villain! 

It  would  be  impossible  to  describe  in  words  the  tone  and 
manner  with  which  this  terrible  assertion  was  made  by  the 
beautiful  woman.  She  had  risen  from  her  sofa  and  was  stand- 
ing in  the  center  of  a  crimson  carpet,  the  soft  white  draperies 
of  cashmere  falling  around  her,  the  sunlight  heightening  the 
golden  tint  of  her  hair,  and  with  one  hand  outstretched  to  give 
force  to  her  words;  the  same  attitude,  indeed,  in  which  she 
had  stood  long  months  ago,  when,  in  reply  to  the  counselor's 
defense  of  Dr.  Brock's  surgical  skill,  she  kad  said:  "  I  am  not 
so  weak  as  to  hide  his  faults  to  myself." 

Flora  was  right  when  she  said  that  she  liked  to  call  things 
"  by  their  right  names."  She  had  just  put  into  plain  words 
the  thought  that  had  vaguely  haunted  Dr.  Bruck's  mind  since 
yesterday — a  thought  that  he  would  have  shrunk  from  accept- 
ing as  possible,  even  within  thfe  secret  recesses  of  his  own 
heart — and  it  pained  him  excessively  to  hear  from  those 
womanly  lips,  in  hard,  undisguised  terms,  a  truth  which  it 
would  have  been  better  and  kinder  to  have  left  untold.  The 
generosity  inherent  in  the  man's  nature  resented  with  silent 
scorn  the  unwelcome  boast  that  she,  the  petted  and  spoiled 
sister-in-law,  "  had  not  been  duped  "  by  the  counselor  s  ex- 
travagance and  lavishness  in  the  preparations  for  her  wedding. 

"  I  am  unfortunate  this  morning  in  the  choice  of  my 
words,"  she  went  on,  after  a  momentary  pause  in  a  half -sar- 
castic, half-conciliatory  tone,  as  she  went  toward  him,  he 
having  turned  off  to  the  window  without  answering  her. 
"  Everything  I  say  seems  to  displease  you.  Perhaps  I  have 
spoken  out  a  little  too  plainly  for  your  sensitive  feelings,  and 
you  think  that  I  might  have  spared  his  memory  the  reproach, 
considering  the  kindness  he  had  conferred  on  me?"  Shrug- 

fing  her  shoulders  and  raising  her  brows,  she  added:  "  It  may 
e  so,  but  then  you  see  I  am  a  sworn  enemy  to  the  weakness 
of  trying  to  gloss  over  faults  that  are  patent  to  every  one  who 


244  IN"  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

has  a  grain  of  sense;  besides,  I  have  sufficient  reason  for  being 
angry  and  indignant  with  Moriz.  Henriette  is  as  poor  as  a 
church  mouse;  he  speculated  with  every  penny  of  her  income; 
and  Kathe? — you  may  rest  assured  that  not  a  farthing  of  her 
enormous  fortune  will  be  found. " 

"  Thank  God!"  exclaimed  the  young  doctor,  under  his 
breath,  with  a  deep  sigh  of  satisfaction,  while  his  face  wa? 
momentarily  suffused  with  crimson,  and  he  smiled  softly  it 
himself. 

Quietly  as  the  words  had  been  uttered,  Flora's  quick  ear 
caught  them. 

"  Thank  God?"  she  repeated,  with  no  little  astonishment 
depicted  on  her  countenance,  smiling  and  clasping  her  hands 
together.  "  I  confess  I  am  not  remarkably  attached  to  my 
young  half-sister,  but  what  has  she  done  to  you  that  you  re- 
joice in  such  a  strange  fashion  over  her  misfortune?" 

He  bit  his  under  lip  in  vexation,  pressed  his  forehead  against 
the  cool  pane  of  glass  before  him,  and  did  not  reply,  while  she 
gazed  out  into  the  garden  and  watched  the  sunlight  gleam  on 
the  stone  nymph  of  the  fountain. 

"  Kathe  will  not  be  as  badly  off  as  Henriette,  after  all,"  re- 
sumed Flora,  thoughtfully;  "  the  mill  and  Mill-house  belong 
to  her,  and  they  are  worth  something,  and  the  former  will 
bring  her  in  a  nice  little  income  yearly.  She  can  go  and  live 
there  as  soon  as  matters  are  settled  here,  and  I  should  think 
that  Henriette's  best  plan  will  be  to  live  with  her.  The  two  are 
very  fond  of  each  other,  and  the  poor  consumptive  girl  would 
be  a  terrible  drag  on  grandmamma.  I  can't  imagine  a  better 
arrangement;  can  you?  I  should  not  dream  of  burdening  you 
in  our  new  home  with  such  an  invalid  as  Henriette.  Kathe 
will  be  her  best  protector  and  nurse,  and  she  shall  go  to  her. " 
Suddenly  clasping  her  hands  round  his  arm,  she  looked  up 
tenderly  in  his  face  and  said:  "Ah,  Leo,  howl  shall  thank 
God  when  you  and  I  are  married,  by  and  by,  and  we  drive 
away  this  afternoon  together,  leaving  all  this  confusion  and 
sorrow  behind." 

With  a  passionate  movement  and  a  sternness  of  expression 
that  she  had  never  seen  before  in  his  face,  the  young  doctor 
wrenched  his  arm  from  Flora's  grasp  and  said,  in  a  hoarse 
Toice  of  deep  emotion : 

"  Would  you  really  have  the  heart  to  leave  your  family 
helpless  and  alone  at  such  a  terrible  time  as  this?  Go  then 
where  you  will,  I  shall  remain  here." 

"  Leo!"  she  cried,  then  became  speechless  with  the  bitter- 
ness of  her  mortification  as  she  saw  that  he  was  in  earnest 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  245 

She  put  her  hand  to  her  heart  as  if  she  had  received  a  stab  in 
the  side,  and  bit  her  pale  lips  to  keep  the  angry  words  which 
she  was  tempted  to  speak  unuttered.  "  You  surely  are  not 
aware  yourself  of  the  import  of  your  rash  words,"  she  said 
presently  in  a  compressed  tone.  I  only  notice  them  at  all 
in  order  to  point  out  to  you  that  unless  we  start  on  our  wed- 
ding-tour to-day,  as  was  originally  intended,  before  the  news 
of  this  terrible  misfortune  gets  abroad — and  no  one  will  be  in- 
clined to  blame  us  for  accepting  our  happiness  an  hour  or  two 
earlier  than  the  hour  fixed  for  the  ceremony — we  shall  be 
obliged  to  defer  the  marriage  for  an  indefinite  time." 

He  was  silent,  even  morose,  as  he  stood  a  short  way  from 
her  as  if  turned  into  granite.  This  silent  immobility  irritated 
her,  and  as  the  seconds  ticked  on  and  still  he  uttered  no  sound 
her  large  gray  eyes  flashed  with  anger  and  her  lips  quivered 
with  passion. 

"  I  have  already  told  you  that  I  am  prepared  to  give  up  a 
great  deal  to  the  demands  of  your  patients  on  your  time;  but 
remember  this,  Leo,  I  will  not  submit  to  the  mere  caprice  of 
any  other  ladies.  I  neither  care  nor  wish  to  understand  why 
you  think  I  ought  to  remain  here  and  go  through  all  the 
trouble  and  annoyance  of  winding  up  affairs  here  with  grand- 
mamma and  Henriette,  when  I  can  retire  to  the  charming 
quiet  and  comfort  of  the  home  you  have  promised  me.  Surely 
you  do  not  expect  me  to  make  such  a  sacrifice?  Besides,  does 
it  lie  in  my  power  to  alter  the  pass  things  have  come  to?  Of 
course  not.  Why  then  need  you  suggest  anything  so  disagree- 
able? Do  you  wish  me  also  to  become  an  object  for  pity? 
No,  no;  a  thousand  times  no;  rather  than  subject  myself  to 
that  I  would  prefer  leaving  the  house  on  foot. " 

She  began  pacing  the  room  with  excitement.  After  taking 
perhaps  a  dozen  turns  she  stopped  suddenly,  still  waiting  for 
him  to  speak,  but  he  was  still  silent.  Then,  knitting  her  brows, 
she  went  on: 

"  You  have  not  given  me  the  slightest  reason  for  your  stay- 
ing here,  as  you  say  you  intend  doing.  You  can  not  plead  the 
need  for  your  presence  upstairs  in  the  sick-room.  Henriette 
was  to  have  been  left  in  any  case,  and  as  to  Kathe,  after  your 
statement  yesterday  that  the  wound  on  her  head  was  not 
dangerous,  you  can  not  declare  now  that  she  requires  your 
constant  and  continued  care.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  could 
scarcely  refrain  from  laughing  last  evening  at  the  enormous 
fuss  you  and  your  aunt  were  making  over  Kathe.  That 
Henriette,  who  is  ill  and  nervous,  should  shed  childish  tears 
ever  a  few  drops  of  blood  I  CPJI  understand;  but  that  you, 


246  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

Leo,  should  condescend  to  treat  the  strong,  robust  descendant 
of  a  wood-cutter  as  tenderly  as  if  she  had  been  a  born — " 

She  checked  herself  suddenly  as  Dr.  Bruck  quietly  turned 
round  and  raised  his  hand  warningly  to  stop  what  she  was  say- 
ing. She  laughed  bitterly. 

"  Do  you  think  I  am  afraid  of  you?  I  tell  you  that  I  reply  to 
that  very  unbecoming  movement  of  your  hand  by  an  answering 
warning,  and  say:  Take  care  what  you  are  at,  Leo;  I  have  not 
yet  said  the  irrevocable  '  Yes  '  at  the  altar.  I  have  it  still  in 
my  power  to  withdraw  if  I  choose,  and  place  you  in  the  un- 
comfortable position  of  a  forsaken  bridegroom.  I  repeat 
again  what  I  said  just  now,  that  the  absurd  fuss  you  made 
over  Kathe  yesterday  vexed  me  excessively.  Won't  the  world 
laugh  at  me  if  you  pay  as  much  care  and  attention  to  her  as  if 
she  were  a  princess,  and — " 

"  No,  Flora,  not  as  to  a  princess,  but  to  the  darling  of  my 
heart,  my  first  and  only  love,"  he  said,  in  his  deep,  ringing 
voice,  not  so  much  to  her  as  to  himself. 

She  started  as  if  the  earth  had  suddenly  opened  at  her  feet, 
an  ashy  pale  color  blanched  her  cheeks,  and  involuntarily 
raising  her  hands,  she  stood  rooted  to  the  spot  with  astonish- 
ment. 

Not  a  muscle  of  his  face  moved  as  he  stood  before  her;  he 
also  raised  his  hands,  but  he  made  no  attempt  to  draw  nearer. 

"  That  which  I  have  hitherto  succeeded  in  hiding  within  my 
own  hear.t  because  I  felt  it  was  a  wrong  toward  you,  and  a  false 
shame  made  me  feel  I  was  morally  weak  in  the  matter,  I  must 
now  confess  openly  to  you.  I  know  now,  and  God  only  knows 
how  I  have  struggled  against  it,  that  I  have  passionately  lovted 
Kathe  from  the  very  first  moment  I  saw  her. "  His  voice  shook, 
and  he  slightly  turned  his  head  to  the  window  away  from  her. 

Flora  let  her  hands  fall  to  her  side.  Unexpected  and  start- 
ling as  the  position  was  in  which  she  was  placed,  she  could  not 
believe  her  ears  had  heard  aright.  Recovering  the  self- 
possession  she  had  momentarily  lost,  she  felt  vexed  with  her- 
self for  having  evinced  any  sign  of  astonishment  or  fear. 

She  had  often  enough  in  former  days  flirted  with  her  part- 
ners at  balls,  and  accepted  with  a  smiling,  pleased  countenance 
the  homage  they  were  only  too  willing  to  pay  to  the  beautiful 
woman  whose  loveliness  of  face  and  form  had  captivated  their 
hearts,  and  it  had  many  a  time  happened  that  she  had  laughed 
at  and  unmercifully  dismissed  with  a  taunt  the  man  whose 
heart  she  had  won  and  then  broken,  if  such  a  thing  as  a  broken 
heart  exists,  when  he  urged  his  suit  or  pleaded  that  she  had 
led  him  to  believe  she  cared  for  mm.  Bui  Uiat  a  man  should 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  34T 

dare  to  flirt  with  her,  and  then  break  his  wor5,  was  simply 
impossible!  The  very  idea  was  absurd;  no  one  in  town  would 
believe  it,  and  she  herself  last  of  all. 

Much  more  likely  that  Dr.  Bruck  had  at  last  summoned  up 
courage  to  revenge  himself  a  little  for  all  she  had  made  him 
suffer.  She  knew  she  had  tried  him  to  the  furthest  point  of 
neglect  that  even  she  dared  to  venture  upon,  that  she  had 
hinted  to  him  not  half  an  hour  ago  he  was  not  to  be  sure  ol 
her  till  the  final  "Yes"  had  irrevocably  been  uttered,  and 
this  had  so  vexed  and  annoyed  him,  so  she  thought  to  comfort 
herself,  that  he  determined  to  punish  her  by  making  her  jeal- 
ous. And  her  inborn  vanity  and  frivolous  nature  kept  her 
blind  for  a  few  moments  longer  to  the  bitterest  delusion  of  her 
life.  Curling  her  lips  and  crossing  her  arms,  she  said,  cut- 
tingly: 

Ah,  indeed !  the  very  first  moment.  Then  that  must  have 
been  the  moment  she  entered  the  hall  like  a  peasant,  her  shoes 
all  covered  with  dust,  and  that  very  Arcadian-looking  bundle, 
tied,  up  in  her  handkerchief,  hanging  on  her  arm.  Was  it  so?" 

She  might  have  seen,  had  she  chosen,  how  each  one  of  her 
scoffing  words  made  his  blood  boil,  imd  how  it  hurt  him  that 
she  could  thus  make  fun  of  a  feeling  which  had  cost  so  many 
hours  of  hard  struggling  with  himself  before  he  could  make 
up  his  mind  to  inform  her  of  the  fact  at  all.  But  he  subdued 
his  rising  anger.  The  question  which  concerned  them  both  so 
closely  must  be  discussed  between  them;  that  it  should  be  done 
in  a  manner  worthy  of  respect,  was  his  to  decide. 

"  I  had  accompanied  her  to  the  villa.  I  saw  her  first  at  the 
Mill-house, "  he  replied,  after  a  momentary  hesitation. 

Flora's  cheeks  flushed  crimson  with  surprise,  her  eyes  glit- 
tered, and  she  bit  her  lip. 

"Ah,  indeed!  Now  I  begin  to  understand.  And  our 
simple-minded  little  sneak  was  interested  in  keeping  that 
fact  to  herself.  A  fair  beginning,  I  acknowledge!"  she 
laughed,  aloud.  "  Well,  what  next,  Leo?"  she  asked,  fold- 
ing her  arms  tighter  across  her  bosom  and  stamping  her  foot 
impatiently  on  the  ground. 

"  The  tone  you  think  fit  to  adopt,  Flora,  leaves  me  no 
other  alternative  than  to  address  you  on  the  subject  in  writ- 
ing," he  said,  coldly,  anxious  to  avoid  a  scene.;  and,  scarcely 
feeling  able  to  master  his  indignation,  he  moved  toward  the 
door. 

She  sprung  forward  and  barred  his  passage. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  don't  be  so  in  earnest,  Leo!  I  was 
merely  playing  a  part  of  vour  own  comedy.  So  you  wish  te 


248  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

wage  a  pen-and-paper  war  with  me?  My  dear  Leo,  you  wH 
be  worsted  if  you  do.  Let  me  warn  you  in  time  not  to  at- 
tempt any  such  thing,  however  much  practice  you  may  have 
had  in  writing  prescriptions." 

The  smile  she  had  forced  to  her  lips  died  away  as  she  en- 
countered the  somber  and  stern  expression  depicted  on  his 
face.  For  the  first  time  she  began  to  comprehend  that  he 
might  be  in  earnest — bitter  earnest;  not  in  his  declared  love 
x'or  her  young  step-sister — that  was  an  utter  impossibility — but 
in  his  determination  to  break  off  his  engagement  to  her  at  the 
last  moment  rather  than  put  himself  in  the  life-long  position 
of  being  obliged  to  submit  to  her  caprices  and  heartless  be- 
havior. Her  bosom  heaved  as  the  thought  passed  through  her 
mind;  but  she  still  clutched  wildly  at  the  hope  that  he  would 
not  dare  to  mortify  her  in  the  eyes  of  the  world  by  any  such 
decided  step.  She  glanced  again  at  his  face,  set  her  teeth,  and 
then  said,  haughtily,  as  she  moved  aside  to  allow  him  to  pass: 

"  Go,  Doctor  Bruck!  The  look  you  gave  me  a  moment 
ago  is  more  than  I  choose  to  submit  to.  Go,  I  beg  of  you.  I 
will  not  move  my  little  finger  to  keep  you;  no,  nor  utter  one 
syllable  to  ask  you  to  stay. "  Bursting  into  a  mocking  peal  of 
laughter,  she  added:  "Men  are  noble  creatures,  certainly! 
There  was  a  time,  not  so  many  months  ago,  when  I  went  on 
my  knees  and  begged  for  my  freedom  to  be  given  back  to  me, 
but  it  was  refused,  and  I  was  caught  more  firmly  in  the  net, 
held  faster  than  ever  by  the  chain  which  linked  us  together. 
Now  see  and  learn  what  a  poor  weak  woman's  soul  is  capable 
of — pride — " 

"It  was  pride  which  made  me  deaf  to  your  prayer  for  free- 
dom— indomitable  pride — but  a  very  different  thing  to  the 
mixture  of  self -consolation  and  anger  that  you  exhibit  and  call 
pride,"  he  interrupted,  in  a  quiet,  masterful  tone  and  manner, 
although  he  had  not  a  trace  of  color  left  in  his  face.  "I  ac- 
knowledge that  I  was  wrong — very  wrong — to  indulge  it,  and 
I  will  make  no  attempt  to  palliate  my  fault  by  empty  apolo- 
gies, or  to  defend  my  actions  by  pointing  out  to  you  your  own 
short-comings.  What  I  did  then  was  the  result  of  a  certain 
boast  I  had  unwittingly  made  a  law  to  myself,  that  I,  by  pure 
strength  of  will,  could  accomplish  whatever  I  had  set  before 
me  to  do;  that  if  once  I  had  made  up  my  mind  a  thing  should 
be  I  would  allow  no  obstacle  to  stand  in  the  way  of  its  fulfill- 
ment. I  would  not  give  you  back  your  freedom  for  this  same 
reason;  also  because  I  considered  that,  having  once  passed 
your  wdrd  to  be  my  wife,  you  were  bound  to  eternity  to  keep 
it,  m  lt  on  my  side,  was  bound  to  keep  my  faith  with  you.  I 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  249 

broke  my  word  in  my  life.  I  had  promised  to  marry 
you,  and  that  promise  had  to  be  kept;  and  from  this  point  of 
view  I  regarded  our  betrothal  as  sound  and  binding  for  life  as 
the  Catholics  regard  marriage  vows.  I  will  not  deny  that  this 
was  a  remnant  of  my  student  days'  enthusiasm.  That  even- 
ing you  begged  for  our  engagement  to  be  broken,  when  you 
informed  me  that  you  had  no  affection  for  me — that  you  hated 
me— I  told  you  in  reply  that  I  would  not  give  you  back  your 
freedom,  because  I  had  no  intention  of  joining  the  ranks  of 
those  whom  you  had  harnessed  to  your  triumphal  car  of 
victory  over  men's  hearts  in  order  to  prove  the  fascination  of 
your  beauty,  and  then  be  left  on  the  road  to  die  when  you 
grew  weary  of  your  triumph.  I  confess  again  that  this  was 
not  right  of  me,  because  in  acting  as  I  did  it  is  not  so  much 
the  honor  of  the  man  which  is  compromised  by  the  results  of 
such  conduct  as  that  of  the  woman." 

She  turned  away  with  a  burning  flush  on  her  cheek,  and 
began  drumming  with  her  fingers  on  the  table.  For  a  moment 
her  bosom  heaved,  certainly  not  with  emotion  or  sorrow  for 
the  loss  of  the  lover,  the  only  one  of  the  numerous  admirers 
for  whom  she  ever  felt  the  slightest  approach  to  affection,  but 
with  mortified  pride.  After  a  slight  pause  she  said,  haughtily, 
without  turning  her  head  toward  him: 

"  I  did  not  conceal  from  you  that  my  hand  had  been  sought 
times  out  of  number  before  I  engaged  myself  to  you." 

"  I  know  you  did  not;  besides,  I  heard  it  from  all  my 
friends.  You  know,  too,  that  you  were  the  ideal  of  my  youth 
while  I  was  at  college;  and  afterward  when  I  joined  my  regi- 
ment, I  was  constantly  hearing  of  your  triumphs,  and  I  could 
not  resist  the  thought  rising  in  my  mind  that  it  would  be  a 
very  grand  achievement  to  win  the  heart  of  the  celebrated 
beauty  who  had  refused  every  man  who  had  yet  aspired  to  ob- 
tain her  hand,  and — "  He  checked  himself,  for  he  had  no 
wish  to  add  to  her  vanity  by  describing  the  fascination  her 
beauty  had  for  him  before  he  saw  her,  or  to  wound  and  mortify 
her  by  reminding  her  of  the  coquetry  she  had  employed  to  win 
his  hand  and  heart,  when  she  saw  the  position  of  social  rank 
he  attained  by  his  brilliant  achievements  during  the  war. 

"  And  did  you  flatter  yourself  that  you  were  the  only  one  of 
cJl  my  numerous  admirers  whom  I  loved?"  she  added,  when 
he  paused. 

"  Loved?  No,  Flora,  not  one  of  them — not  even  me,"  he 
cried,  passionately.  "  You  have  only  loved  one  person  in 
your  whole  life,  and  that  one  is  the  beautiful,  graceful,  talent- 
ed Flora  Mangold. " 


2*0  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  Ah!"  she  said,  with  the  softened  ring  of  regret  in  her 
voice,  "  the  usual  flattery  of  a  lover  I  have  sadly  missed  in 
you.  Even  if  you  caressed  me  you  never  had  a  word  of  en- 
dearment for  me,  and  now — now  in  the  bitterness  of  this 
hour,  you  paint  me  in  colors  that  even  I,  vain  and  egotistical 
as  you  say  I  am,  can  not  fail  to  be  satisfied  with. " 

He  blushed  like  a  girl  as  he  looked  up  at  her.  He  knew 
that  many  weeks,  even  months,  had  elapsed  since  he  had 
kissed  the  soft,  curling  lips  of  that  beautiful  woman  before 
him,  and  yet  that  he  had  kissed  them  at  all  seemed  to  him 
now  a  wrong  toward  the  other  pure,  sweet  girl  whom  he  had 
learned  to  love  with  all  the  passion  and  earnestness  of  hia 
nature.  He  turned  his  eyes  away  from  the  face  before  him 
which  was  smiling  at  his  confusion,  and  looked  out  into  the 
garden. 

"  Leo/'  said  Flora,  suddenly  going  over  to  him  and  put- 
ting her  hand  on  his  arm,  "  Leo,  did  you  come  down  here  just 
now  for  the  express  purpose  of  being  hard  and  reproaching 
me?" 

"  You  forget  that  it  was  you  who  sent  for  me,"  he  replied. 
"  I  should  not  have  come  of  my  own  free  will,  for  both  girls 
are  ill  upstairs — Kathe  is  still  unconscious  and  Henriette's 
state  makes  me  very  anxious — without  your  expressed  wish  to 
see  me  at  once  I  should  not  have  left  them,  and  certainly  in 
the  midst  of  all  this  confusion  and  trouble  I  should  not  have 
dreamed  of  coming  to  the  decision  your  words  have  so  unex- 
pectedly provoked." 

"  What  decision?"  she  said,  quickly.  "  Surely  you  have 
not  taken  in  earnest  my  rather  childish  anger  of  a  few  mo- 
ments ago,  when  I  told  you  to  go?  A  woman's  passing  caprice 
is  not  to  be  treated  with  sober  earnestness  like  that. " 

The  blood  mounted  to  his  brow — by  her  unmerited  reproach 
she  had  brought  matters  to  an  unexpected  crisis.  Standing 
still,  he  said,  with  ill-concealed  impatience,  as  if  irritated  a* 
her  persistence  in  ignoring  the  truth  of  their  strange  position, 
and  his  voice  had  a  passionate  ring  in  it  which  startled  her: 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  blame  you  in  the  matter — I  would  not 
presume  to  do  so.  I — I  forced  myself  to  remain  true  to — 

"  Ah,  yes!  You  made  an  observation  just  now  in  reference 
to  the  force  of  your  will;  has  it — your  will,  I  mean — failed 
you?" 

"  Failed  me?  No,  it  has  not;  only  acknowledged  that  it 
was  directed  into  the  wrong  channnel.  Flora,  I  told  you  long 
ago  that  in  refusing  to  withdraw  from  my  engagement  to  you 
I  had  acted  on  a  false  basis.  I  knew  then — had  known  for 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  251 

some  time — that  you  had  not  one  atom  of  love  for  me.  As  I 
said  before,  you  never  cared  for  any  one  but  your  own  richly 
endowed  beauty,  although  you  made  me  believe  at  first  that 
you — loved  me.  Bah! — and  then  I  soon  found  out  that  the 
enthusiastic  admiration  I  had  for  your  lovely  person  had  not 
extended  to  my  heart — that  you  never  touched.  You  were, 
and  are  still,  my  ideal  of  female  beauty  of  face  and  iornv, 
your  face  is  perfect;  your  form  faultless,  but  your  nature  is 
cold,  calculating  and  selfish.  I  soon  learned  with  bitterness 
that  while  you  would  be  an  ornament  in  my  house  as  my  wife, 
you  would  never  bend  yourself  to  be  my  companion — the 
sweet,  attractive  center  of  my  home,  around  which  love  and 
peace,  not  worldly  ambition  and  praise,  would  hover.  The 
love  I  hoped  to  win  in  your  heart  was  not  there  to  give.  Mine 
is  a  passionate,  warm  nature,  and  it  was  a  bitter  trial  for  me 
when  I  woke  up  to  the  consciousness  that  I  had  to  fook  for- 
ward to  a  loveless  marriage — a  marriage  in  which  not  one 
sentiment  of  tender  feeling  had  any  influence.  You  looked 
focward  to  reigning  in  society  as  queen  of  my  drawing-room. 
You  did  not  care  whether  I  loved  you  or  not,  and  you  accepted 
my  reserve  and  coldness  without  question  or  interest  as  to  their 
cause.  Flora,  we  both  made  a  mistake — have  both  done 
wrong.  You  never  cared  for  me  with  any  feeling  of  affec- 
tion—" 

She  was  silent — she  could  not  look  him  in  the  face  and  tell 
him  he  erred  iu  his  surmise,  for  she  knew  that  love,  in  the 
sense  he  referred  to — true,  devoted,  self-sacrificing  love — she 
had  never  given  him,  never  could  give  to  any  one.  Her  eyes 
wandered  carelessly  over  the  red  carpet;  she  did  not  wish  to 
meet  those  searching,  grave  orbs  of  his  which  she  felt  were 
reading  her  through,  and  she  would  at  the  moment  have  given 
a  great  deal  to  have  been  able  to  look  boldly  up  in  his  face  and 
contradict  his  statement. 

"  And  then  it  was  I  clung  obstinately  and  reluctantly  to  the 
letter  of  my  word  —the  more  faithless  I  was  in  my  heart  to- 
ward you  the  more — " 

"  Ah— well!" 

"  Yes,  Flora,  you  may  believe  it  or  not,  as  you  please;  but 
I  did  fight  the  battle — I  did  wish  to  be  true  to  you. "  A  deep 
breath  relieved  him,  and  then  he  went  on:  "1  fought  against 
my  love  for  Kathe  as  if  I  had  been  fighting  with  my  deadliest 
enemy.  Flora,  the  very  first  moment  I  perceived  how  dear 
she  had  become  to  me  I  was  hard  and  severe  with  myself,  and 
with  the  girl  also  who  had  crept  into  my  heart.  I  repulsed 
her  simplest  action.  I  would  not  have  the  flowers  she  h&3 


252  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S 

thoughtlessly  placed  on  my  table  in  my  room — she  had  gath« 
ered  them  and  laid  them  there,  not  for  me — oh,  no!  but  while 
helping  my  aunt  in  some  household  duty.  She  liked  coming  to 
my  house;  but  I  avoided  her  presence  as  if  she  had  been  the 
plague.  I  was  cold,  even  rude  to  her,  and  fled  away  from  the 
sight  of  the  face  which  charms  me  more  than  any  other  face  1 
ever  saw — " 

"  That  is  very  likely;  a  doctor's  eye  is  sure  to  be  attracted 
by  a  healthy,  round,  red  and  white  face  like  hers — Dame 
Nature's  choice  country  production!"  The  reserve  which  pre- 
vented her  looking  in  his  face  awhile  ago  had  vanished  now; 
she  drew  up  her  head,  and,  pressing  her  clasped  hands  against 
her  bosom,  continued,  sarcastically:  "  And  you  think  it  neces- 
sary to  inform  me  of  these  details?  You  think  I  wish  to  know 
how  this  unsophisticated  maiden  threw  flowers  into  the  room 
of  the  man  she  wished  to  attract. " 

"  Stop,  Flora!"  And  he  raised  his  hand  with  a  gesture 
which  intimidated  even  her,  and  obliged  her  to  stay  the  words 
she  was  about  to  utter.  "  Overwhelm  me  with  reproaches  if 
you  will,  I  will  not  attempt  to  dispute  them,  but  say  one  word 
against  Kathe,  and  I  will  defend  her  in  a  way  you  would  not 
wish  to  see  me  adopt.  Not  once  has  she  knowingly  tried  to 
win  my  love.  She  went  back  to  Dresden  ignorant  of  my  feel- 
ing toward  her,  ignorant  of  her  own.  Why  she  went  at  all 
you  know  best.  While,  on  the  one  side,  she  was  being  urged 
into  marrying  a  man  for  whom  she  had  not  a  particle  of  love, 
on  the  other,  she  was  plainly  made  to  understand  that  she 
ought  to  give  up  her  room  willingly  for  the  sake  of  a  noble 
visitor  who  had  not  a  hundredth  part  as  much  right  in  the 
house  as  she  had.  I  was  a  witness  to  this  unkind  behavior, 
and  I  had  it  on  my  tongue,  when  I  saw  her  lip  quiver  and  her 
cheek  flush  with  the  insult,  to  tell  Madame  Urach,  in  a  few  bit- 
ter words,  what  I  thought  of  her  heartless  conduct.  But  I  had 
no  right  to  interfere,  and  then,  when  indirectly  I  was  asked  to 
have  her  in  my  house,  I  did  not  dare  to  accept  the  temptation, 
knowing  what  I  did — how  passionately  I  loved  her.  An  hour 
later,  unknown  to  me  at  the  moment,  she  overheard  me  en- 
treating my  aunt  to  give  up  Kathe  '&  friendship  for  a  time,  and 
to  find  an  excuse  for  preventing  her  coming  to  and  from  the 
house  while  I  remained  in  it.  And  so  she  went  away,  wounded 
and  sore  in  her  deepest  and  truest  feelings,  and  I  was  cruel 
enough,  nay,  more,  wicked  enough,  for  the  sake  of  a  false 
principle — for  the  sake  of  the  false,  duty-enthroned  idol  I  called 
honor  then,  but  which  now  I  know  was  nothing  of  the  kind—- 
to let  her  depart  without  tellinp-  her  that  tke  lie  I  was  acting 


TK    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  253 

x>  the  world  and  to  you,  Flora,  was  only  a  lie,  and  that  my 
heart  was  hers  entirely  and  forever." 

For  awhile  he  paused,  overcome  with  the  emotion  his  words 
had  called  forth.  Flora  threw  herself  down  on  the  sofa,  laid 
her  head  on  the  cushions  and  pressed  her  soft  hands  against 
her  ears,  as  if  she  wished  to  shut  out  the  sound  of  his  voice ; 
but  he  went  on,  unheedingly: 

"  Yes,  I  let  her  go,  and  then  I  breathed  more  freely,  anJ 
told  myself  that  my  struggle  was  over,  and  that  now  at  least  1 
should  be  at  peace — fool!  fool  that  I  was!  I  might  have 
known  that  the  moment  she  turned  her  back  I  should  be 
assailed  by  a  fiend  who  would  torment  my  existence  beyond 
endurance.  It  was  not  the  exigencies  of  my  profession  which 
kept  me  away  from  society  here  and  made  me  reserved  and 
morose  when  surrounded  by  the  presence  of  the  other  one  so 
much  as  the  deep  terrible  longing  I  had  for  a  sight  of  her 
sweet  face." 

He  left  the  window  niche  where  he  had  been  standing,  and 
began  slowly  pacing  the  room,  while  Flora  rose  from  her  re- 
cumbent position,  shook  back  the  disordered  curls  from  her 
forehead,  and  said,  with  an  ironical  laugh: 

"  You  longed  to  see  Kathe?  Well  would  dear  papa  under- 
stand now,  if  he  were  alive,  what  he  could  not  comprehend 
years  ago — the  true  instinct  of  his  eldest  girl,  which  caused 
her  to  rebel  against  calling  the  miller's  daughter  '  mamma  ' — 
which  made  her  turn  her  back  on  the  new-born  baby — Kathe, 
you  know — and  passionately  cry  out  that  she  had  two  sisters 
and  did  not  want  any  step-sister!  You  need  not  call  the 
foundation  for  your  past  actions  a  '  false  principle/  Oh,  no! 
For  the  sake  of  this  very  false  principle  thousands  of  lies  are 
enacted  by  people  who  are  pleased  to  call  themselves  not  only 
respectable  but  honorable — indeed,  you  need  not  excuse  your- 
self—" 

"  Flora,  you  have  no  right  to  sneer  in  any  such  way/'  he 
oroke  in.  "I  hoped  that  you  would  accept  my  decision  with- 
out forcing  me  to  remind  you  of  things  I  would  rather  not 
refer  to."  His  voice  was  hoarse  with  emotion,  but  he  deter- 
mined now  to  bring  matters  to  an  end  between  them.  "  I  do 
not  excuse  myself.  I  know  I  have  done  you  a  great  wrong, 
and  yet  you  oblige  me  to  remind  you  again  that  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  day  you  were  attacked  in  the  forest  you  told  me 
distinctly  that  you  hated  me — and  why?  Because  I  hinted 
that  you  had  talents,  but  not  genius,  and  that  it  would  be 
better  if  you  gtive  up  writing  on  a  subject  which  you  were  not 
in  a  position  to  understand.  Nn.  listen — you  shall  hear  me/' 


254  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  ;HOUSE. 

for  she  made  an  attempt  to  interrupt  him.  "  The  day  after 
this  candid  admission  on  your  part,  I  became  aware  that  your 
hatred  had  changed  into  a  deep  attachment  for  your  neglected 
lover,  in  consequence  of  his  having  been  advanced  to  a  post  of 
honor  at  court,  and  having  received  from  the  hands  of  his 
sovereign,  as  a  mark  of  gratitude  for  a  slight  service  rendered, 
an  order  which  you  informed  me  made  me  a  marked  man  for 
life.  And  I  accepted  your  change  of  feeling  as  silently  as  I 
aad  leceiyed  your  assertion  of  hatred,  and  let  the  yoke  remain 
round  my  neck,  because  I  wished  to  be  what  you  sneer  at — 
respectable  and  honorable.  I  would  have  acted  this  abomina- 
ble lie  to  the  end  of  time  if  it  had  only  concerned  you  and  me 
— if  /  had  been  the  only  one  to  suffer  in  the  loveless  future 
before  us.  But  there  was  another — we  were  not  two,  but 
three,  and  of  these  three  human  beings  one  would  have  gone 
to  the  altar  and  pronounced  the  inevitable  *  Yes  '  without  one 
pang  of  remorse  at  the  misery  she  was  entailing  by  that  act, 
without  one  thought  of  anything  but  the  position  before  her  in 
the  world — while  the  other  two,  separated  by  that  fatal  word 
as  surely  as  if  the  poles  divided  them  asunder,  would  yet  have 
been  one  in  heart  and  thought,  and  would  have  loved  on  to — 

A  cry  of  rage  interrupted  him. 

"  Has  she  dared  to  raise  her  eyes  to  her  sister's  promised 
husband — the  hypocrite!  Has  she  told  you  then  that  her  de- 
ceitful heart  is  yours?  Traitors  both  of  you!"  she  hissed 
rather  than  spoke. 

He  started,  the  color  forsook  his  cheek  and  lips,  and  his  eyes 
flashed  in  scorn  and  anger;  but  he  checked  his  auger  and  said: 

"  You  may  say  what  you  will,  but  no  words  of  yours  can 
possibly  calumniate  in  my  eyes  such  a  fair  modest  character  as 
Kathe's.  I  have  not  heard  a  word  from  her  lips  since  that 
afternoon  I  drove  her  from  my  presence.  I  did  not  know  she 
had  returned  yesterday.  I  had  escaped  from  the  noise  of  the 
rehearsals,  and  the  confusion  of  the  hammering  and  arranging 
^ere,  into  the  quiet  of  my  own  garden,  when  I  suddenly  saw 
her  standing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  rustic  bridge,  not 
daring  to  cross  over  the  spot  she  loves  so  well,  because  I  had 
banished  her  by  my  hard,  cruel  words."  He  hesitated  and 
paused,  and  the  color  rushed  to  his  forehead.  He  would  not 
tell  her  how  it  was  that  the  assurance  came  to  him  that  the 
weeping  girl  at  the  bridge  loved  him — enough  that  he  himself 
felt  sure  of  it. 

"  As  soon  as  I  could  collect  my  sooses  after  the  explosion  in 
the  tower  I  rushed  through  the  park  seeking  for  her,"  he 
went  on,  after  he  had  subdued  his  fadings  sufficiently  to  speab 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  255 

Jftlmly;  "  and  when  I  found  her  lying  on  the  ground,  and  had 
convinced  myself  that  she  was  yet  alive,  I  felt  sure  that  death 
had  passed  her  by  in  order  that  I  might  be  happy  with  her  at 
last.  And  in  that  moment  the  scales  fell  from  my  eyes,  I 
recognized  the  right  of  my  heart  to  speak  for  itself.  I  saw  the 
folly  of  the  sin  I  was  about  to  commit  in  marrying  one  who 
did  not  love  me,  and  for  whom  I  had  no  feelings  of  affection: 
and  there  and  then  I  determined  to  brave  the  world's  opinionj 
and  declare  myself  a  '  respectable  '  hypocrite. " 

During  the  utterance  of  the  last  sentence  or  two  Flora's 
manner  had  completely  changed.  She  had  played  for  high 
stakes  and  lost;  but  she  was  not  a  woman  of  the  world  for 
nothing.  The  cold  calculating  brain  had  grasped  the  fact 
that  her  influence  was  nothing  by  the  side  of  the  subtle  power 
of  the  passionate  love  the  young  doctor  had  avowed  for  ifathe, 
but  she  was  not  daunted.  She  smiled  back  at  him  with  a  cat- 
like glitter  in  her  blue  eyes,  while  she  snatched  the  lace  cap 
which  had  fallen  from  her  head,  and  placed  it  deftly  on  the 
top  of  her  hair.  Drawing  the  soft  lappets  under  her  delicate 
chin,  she  knit  her  brows,  and  with  a  satanic  smile,  which 
startled  him  with  its  look  of  malignity,  she  said,  with  slow 
emphasis : 

Indeed,  and  without  asking  my  leave,  Herr  Doctor? 
Well,  do  as  you  like!  Listening  to  you  just  now  I  could  not 
help  asking  myself  the  simple  question — what  should  I  have 
done  by  the  side  of  such  a  very  sentimental,  romantic  person? 
It  is  just  as  well  that  things  are  as  they  are,  for  both  of  us.  I 
give  you  back  your  word,  as  one  does  freedom  to  a  bird  with  a 
string  attached  to  its  foot,  one  end  of  which  one  holds  in  one's 
hand."  She  just  touched  with  the  tip  of  her  finger  her  be- 
trothal-ring. "  You  are  free  to  win  the  sweetest  and  most 
winsome  girl  in  the  land,  even  my  most  devoted  friend,  if  you 
like,  and  I  will,  myself,  hand  her  over  my  ring  here — buf  not 
to  Kathe;  I  forbid  that.  Do  you  hear,  Doctor  Bruck?  If  you 
fly  over  the  seas  with  her  or  hide  yourselves  in  the  most  ob- 
scure village  beyond  the  mountains,  I  shall  appear  before  you 
at  the  altar  and  forbid  the  marriage. " 

"  Thank  God  you  have  no  power  to  do  that,"  he  answered, 
pale  as  death,  with  a  deep  breath. 

"  You  think  not!  Well,  wait  and  see  if  you  will  obtain 
your  wish,  if  you  can  realize  your  sinful  will;  I  think  you  will 
find  /  can  prevent  it.  You  are  a  faithless,  miserable  traitor, 
and  not  worthy  of  the  rich  perfumed  plant  you  have  cast  aside 
for  the  sake  of  a  paltry  field  daisy!  Bah!  you  will  hear  from 
me  again!"  aud  with  a  light  wave  of  the  hand  in  sign  of  fare- 


256  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

well,  and  a  mocking,  ringing  laugh,  she  swept  him  an  elaborate 
courtesy,  and  passed  into  the  inner  apartment,  shutting  the 
door  behind  her. 

In  the  anteroom  leading  to  the  corridor  the  young  doctor 
was  met  by  a  servant,  who  in  a  low  voice  said : 

"Fraulein  Henriette  is  very  ill,  sir;  her  maid  sent  me  to 
fetch  you,  and  to  tell  you  that  she  has  had  a  bad  fit  of  cough- 
ing and  has  now  fainted;  will  you  come  at  once,  sir?" 

"  I  am  coming,"  was  the  short  answer,  in  a  tone  of  such 
sad  depression  that  the  man  went  down  into  the  servants'  hall 
and  reported  that  Fraulein  Henriette  must  be  "  going  to  die," 
the  Herr  Doctor  seemed  so  "  cut  up  "  on  hearing  that  she  had 
fainted. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  oldest  resident  in  town  could  not  remember  an  occur- 
rence which  had  so  startled  and  excited  the  population  of  the 
town  and  neighborhood  as  the  explosion  in  the  tower,  and  the 
consequent  death  of  the  counselor  and  the  foreman  at  the  mill. 

The  two  days  following  the  catastrophe  were  spent  in  be- 
moaning and  lamenting  the  rich  man's  unhappy  fate,  and  in 
expressing  sympathy  and  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  such  a  very 
magnificent  patron  as  the  late  counselor  had  been  to  the  -towns- 
people; and  then  terrible  whispers  began  circulating  from 
mouth  to  mouth  as  to  the  solvent  state  of  the  millionaire's 
affairs  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  extensive  alterations  go- 
ing on  in  the  villa  had  been  undertaken  by  contract,  and  on 
partial  and  hasty  examination  it  was  discovered  that  no  secur- 
ity of  any  value  had  been  given  by  the  counselor  for  future 
payment  when  the  elaborate  and  expensive  work  was  finished. 
The  contractors  looked  at  each  other  and  shook  their  heads, 
and  when  the  hours  rolled  on,  and  the  suggestion  of  the  en- 
gineer on  the  day  the  explosion  took  place,  that  the  old  gun- 
powder would  not  have  exploded  unless  a  large  quantity  of 
fresh  material  had  been  added  to  it,  assumed  the  form  of  cer- 
tainty, then  it  was  that  reports  began  to  circulate  implicating 
the  honor  and  upright  dealing  of  the  wealthy  merchant.  It 
was  a  very  ugly  fact  that  a  large  quantity  of  explosive  sub- 
stance should  have  been  stowed  away  in  a  vault  right  under 
the  room  where  the  late  owner  of  such  an  enormous  income 
usually  kept  the  papers  and  documents  and  books  relative  to 
iis  business  affairs.  Why  the  powder  should  have  been  placed 
there  at  all  was  a  mystery  many  tried  to  solve.  They  had  not 
)ong  to  wait  for  the  solution.  On  the  third  day  confidential 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSS.  25? 

fetters  arrived  from  Berlin,  where  as  yet  no  one  had  heard  ot 
his  death,  giving  an  account  of  the  immense  losses  the  coun- 
selor must  have  sustained  in  the  rash  speculations  he  had  been 
indulging  in  lately,  and  how,  in  consequence  of  the  panic  in 
the  money  market  he  had  recklessly  endeavored  to  retrieve 
certain  of  his  heavier  losses  by  speculating  largely  in  the  op- 
posite direction.  How  he  had  been  able  to  conceal  his  losses 
was  another  question,  which  people  in  town  discussed  freely 
when  the  news  from  Berlin  reached  their  ears. 

Not  even  his  confidential  agent,  the  accountant  at  the  spin- 
ning manufactory,  had  the  least  idea  that  he  had  been  specu- 
lating beyond  his  means.  Evidently,  as  one  man  observed  to 
another,  the  rich  man  had  had  the  happy  rare  good  fortune  of 
throwing  dust  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  keenest  in  search- 
ing for  faults  in  their  rich  neighbors'  actions,  or  he  could  not 
have  held  on  so  long.  And  if  what  was  darkly  hinted  was 
true,  and  he  had  committed  the  terrible  crime  of  blowing  up 
the  silent  witnesses  to  his  disgrace  and  ruin,  then  again  he  had 
brfen  fortunate,  for,  after  all,  it  was  only  surmise,  and  he 
might  have  been  in  a  position  to  recover  his  losses  by  the  sale 
of  the  valuable  antiquities  and  pictures  he  had  collected  to- 
gether in  his  rooms  in  the  tower.  But  he  had  lost  Ms  own 
life  with  his  fortune,  and  however  much  he  might  have  sinned 
against  others  there  was  no  evidence  left  to  prove  it,  since  the 
tower  was  completely  destroyed,  with  every  letter  and  docu- 
ment it  contained. 

While  the  catastrophe  and  its  consequences  were  occupying 
the  minds  of  people  in  town,  sadness  and  sorrow  reigned  in  the 
villa.  The  day  following  the  explosion  many  intimate  friends 
of  the  family  hastened  to  the  house  to  hear  for  themselves  all 
about  the  terrible  misfortune  which  had  happened,  and  their 
subdued  voices  and  hushed  footsteps  had  produced  a  sort  of 
confusion  among  the  servants  that  was  very  trying  in  its  re- 
sults to  one  of  Flora's  impatient  nature.  The  next  day  a 
painful  oppressive  silence  took  possession  of  the  house,  visitors 
were  denied  entrance,  and  most  of  the  windows  were  tempo- 
rarily boarded  across  to  keep  out  the  cold,  and  wind,  and  rain; 
thus  causing  a  dark  gloomy  half  light  in  the  rooms,  and 
making  the  outside  of  the  dwelling  look  as  if  it  had  been 
deserted. 

News  of  the  counselor's  loss  of  fortune  had  not  yet  reached 
the  ears  of  Mine.  Urach,  whose  whole  thoughts  were  concen- 
trated on  the  probable  value  of  the  villa  and  grounds,  and  whe 
was  likely  to  be  its  future  possessor.  With  the  egotism  pecu 
liar  to  old  age  she  gave  no  heed  to  the  death  of  tho  counselor. 

9 


258  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

or  to  the  sorrow  which  might  arise  from  such  an  event  among 
nis  friends.  All  she  thought  of  was  herself,  and  the  selfishness 
inherent  in  her  own  and  her  granddaughter's  nature  never, 
perhaps,  displayed  itself  so  conspicuously  as  during  the  few 
days  succeeding  the  blowing  up  of  the  tower. 

In  a  few  short  words  Flora  had  informed  her  grandmother 
that  her  engagement  to  Dr.  Bruck  had  been  broken  off,  with- 
out referring  in  any  way  to  the  cause  of  the  rupture,  and  the 
old  lady  had  so  far  been  roused  from  the  train  of  her  own 
droughts  as  to  express  surprise  and  astonishment  at  the  un- 
expected news  by  shrugging  her  shoulders  and  uttering  a  few 
sentences  of  vexation.  After  all,  the  change  in  her  grand- 
child's life  was  not  half  so  serious,  to  her  way  of  thinking,  as 
the  terrible  state  of  her  own  uncertainty  respecting  her  future. 
That  she,  an  elderly  lady,  might  suddenly,  at  any  moment,  be 
plunged  into  the  horrors  of  existing  on  a  miserable  pittance, 
after  living  all  these  past  years  in  princely  affluence  and  luxury, 
occupied  all  her  attention.  She  hastily  dismissed  Flora  from 
her  room,  and  begged  her  to  devote  her  energies  to  the  looking 
over  and  sorting  of  any  papers  of  value  she  had.  in  her  pos- 
session relative  to  Moriz's  affairs,  and  not  to  worry  over  such 
a  thing  of  secondary  importance  as  an  interrupted  wedding. 

Down  below,  in  the  kitchen  department,  matters  had  arrived 
at  a  very  serious  crisis.  When  the  morning  which  had  been 
fixed  for  the  wedding  arrived,  much  doubt  and  anxiety  were 
expressed  by  several  of  the  servants  as  to  the  likelihood  of  the 
ceremony  being  peformed  on  that  day.  The  whisper  which 
had  been  first  heard  among  the  workmen  while  putting  up  the 
decorations  had  reached  the  kitchen,  and  produced  a  propor- 
tionate amount  of  disaffection  amonng  the  inmates  of  the 
lower  regions  that  soon  made  itself  felt  above  stairs.  The 
man  who  brought  the  ices  from  town  about  ten  o'clock  was 
full  of  the  news  in  circulation,  that  the  counselor's  affairs  were 
in  an  utterly  ruined  condition.  Very  soon  what  he  said  was 
confirmed  by  an  exaggerated  report  which  reached  the  villa  an 
hour  or  two  later,  to  the  effect  that  not  only  had  the  late 
master  lost  everything,  but  that  he  was  frightfully  in  debt  into 
the  bargain.  A  panic  seized  the  servants,  and  while  some  be- 
gan packing  up  their  boxes,  ready  for  departure  as  soon  as  they 
could  extort  their  wages  from  the  bewildered  butler,  others 
quietly  walked  into  the  dining-room  and  helped  themeslves  to 
the  delicacies  and  viands  prepared  for  the  invited  guests.  The 
confusion  and  discontent  below  was  considerably  increased 
tfhen  Flora's  maid  announced  to  che  butler  that  her  mistress's 
wedding  was  put  off,  and  that  she  had  orders  to  let  him  knoir 


IN  THF  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSH. 

that  the  lawyers  and  town  commissioners  would  arrive  about 
midday,  in  order  to  arrange  certain  matters  relative  to  the 
valuables  in  the  house,  and  that  he  was  to  have  the  library 
prepared  for  their  reception. 

The  first  symptoms  of  disaffection  down-stairs  were  exhibited 
by  the  careless  indifference  with  which  Mme.  Urach's  bell  was 
attended  to.  She  rang,  and  instead  of  her  summons  being 
answered  at  once  she  had  to  ring  a  second  time;  even  then  no 
one  appeared  in  reply,  and  the  angry  old  lady  was  compeiied 
to  leave  her  room  and  appear  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  to  find 
out  the  reason  for  such  an  unparalleled  piece  of  neglect  on  the 
part  of  her  usual  attendants.  Leaning  over  the  balustrade,  she 
saw  a  bevy  of  maids  standing  below  talking  and  gesticulating 
in  such  eager  earnestness  that  she  imagined  they  had  not  heard 
her  summons,  till  a  few  words  of  coarse  reflection  on  the 
family  in  general  gave  the  haughty  old  lady  a  glimpse  into  the 
insubordinate  state  of  affairs,  and  caused  her  to  retreat  back  to 
her  own  room  with  a  flush  of  scorn  and  anger  on  her  face. 

But  none  of  this  confusion  had  reached  the  wing  of  the 
house  where  Henriette's  private  apartments  were  situated. 
The  invalid  girl  was  a  favorite  in  the  servants'  hall,  and  now 
that  they  knew  she  was  ill  and  suffering,  not  one  of  the  whole 
staff  would  have  ventured  to  speak  above  a  whisper,  or  walk, 
except  on  tiptoe,  on  the  staircase  and  landing  leading  to  her 
door,  for  fear  of  disturbing  her  or  of  adding  to  her  pain. 
Dr.  Bruck  had  remarked  to  Nanni  that  her  young  mistress 
was  dangerously  ill,  and  Nanni  in  her  turn  had  weepingly 
announced  it  to  the  servants  below. 

Henriette  was  lying  on  the  sofa  in  her  sitting-room,  her 
golden  head  supported  by  pillows,  and  her  beautiful  blue  eyeo 
closed  for  the  moment  in  exhaustion.     She  knew  she  must  die. 
but  she  did  not  regret  it;  life  for  her  had  always  been  a  burden. 

The  excitement  of  yesterday  had  been  more  than  her  frai' 
body  could  bear,  and  toward  morning  she  had  had  a  violent  fi ; 
of  coughing,  and  then  sunk  into  a  deep  swoon  from  which  Dr. 
Bruck  had  great  difficulty  to  rouse  her.  Her  face  was  white 
as  snow,  and  her  small,  emaciated  hand  was  as  white  as  her 
cheek. 

As  the  young  doctor  gazed  at  her  he  knew  that  she  would 
be  spared  the  pain  of  leaving  her  much-loved  home  to  live 
with  Kathe  at  the  Mill-house,  according  to  Flora's  suggestion 
—would  be  spared  the  still  greater  shame  of  hearing  that  her 
brother-in-law's  name  was  branded  with  the  mark  of  infamy- 
spared  also  the  knowledge  that  he  had  sought  his  own  death  to 
hade  the  consequences  of  his  sins.  She  had  around  her  all  she 


360  ITS  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

cenld  wish  or  desire;  her  last  breath  would  be  breathed  in  the 
presence  of  the  doctor,  for  whom  she  ever  expressed  the  great- 
est affection.  He  had  promised  her  he  would  not  leave  her, 
would  not  go  away  and  settle  in  Leipsic  till  at  least  she  "  was 
better,"  as  she  had  remarked  with  an  expressive  smile,  which 
told  the  young  doctor  she  knew  that  she  must  die  soon. 

Presently  she  rallied,  took  a  little  beaf-tea,  and  then,  with 
a  sweet,  gentle  smile,  laid  her  hand  in  Kathe's,  and  said : 

"  I  am  as  happy  now  as  I  used  to  be  in  the  spring,  when  1 
was  staying  with  Auntie  Diakonus.  You  are  here  to  nurse 
me,  and  you  too  " — she  turned  her  eyes  to  Dr.  Bruck — "  Leo, 
you  and  Kathe  I  love  best  in  all  the  world;  remember  that 
when  I  am  gone." 

Kathe  had  recovered  rapidly  from  the  effect  of  the  blow  on 
her  head,  and  within  an  hour  of  her  return  to  consciousness 
had  been  able  to  leave  her  bed  and  go  about  as  usual.  But 
for  her  looking  a  little  pale,  with  the  plaster  on  the  side  of  her 
head  and  her  hair  hanging  in  two  thick  plaits  down  her  back, 
no  one  would  have  guessed  that  she  had  had  such  a  remarkably 
narrow  escape  of  her  life  as  to  be  first  knocked  down  by  a  fly- 
ing splinter  of  wood  and  then  immersed  in  water  from  the 
overflowing  river,  where  she  would  have  been  drowned  as  she 
lay  if  the  keen  eyes  of  love  had  not  seen  her  fall. 

She  appeared  as  strong  and  able  to  walk  about  as  usual, 
and  evinced  no  signs  of  languor  in  her  outward  manner, 
though  her  heart  was  sinking  within  her  at  the  sorrow  before 
her.  She  knew  quite  well  that  Ilenriette  was  dying,  and  it 
was  hard  to  part  with  her,  although  she  tried  to  make  herself 
believe  that  it  was  best  as  it  was  for  one  whose  life  could  never 
be  anything  to  its  owner  but  one  prolonged  agony. 

By  the  side  of  this  grief  was  the  bitter  knowledge  that  her 
guardian's  conduct  had  been  cruel  and  reprehensible,  even  if 
no  worse,  toward  those  who  had  placed  their  faith  in  his  in- 
tegrity and  upright  dealing.  She  had  heard  the  whisper  in  the 
hall  as  she  passed  through;  and  when  ehe  asked  Dr.  Bruck, 
with  her  eyes  full  of  earnest  anxiety  raised  to  his  face,  if  these 
things  were  true,  he  had  not  replied  "  No;"  but  had  turned 
away  sorrowfully,  and  muttered,  in  a  low  voice:  "  I  dare  tell 
you  nothing  now."  And  afterward  he  had  relapsed  into  his 
usual  reserved,  silent  manner,  from  which  Kathe  made  no  at- 
tempt to  rouse  him. 

A  few  hours  succeeding  to  Dr.  Brack's  interview  with  Flora 
in  her  private  apartment,  he  led  his  aunt  into  the  anteroom 
outside  Henriette's  chamber,  and  closed  the  communicating 
doer.  When  the  old  ladv  returned  to  the  invalid's  side,  her 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  361 

Byes  were  red  with  weeping,  but  her  mouth  and  face  generally 
Bnone  with  a  bright,  subdued  happiness,  and  she  softly  in- 
formed the  two  girls  that  she  intended  going  to  stay  at  her 
nephew's  apartment  in  town  while  the  house  by  the  river  was 
being  repaired.  She  did  not  reveal  the  subject  of  her  private 
conversation  in  the  anteroom,  but  as  she  stooped  over  Hen- 
riette  and  tenderly  kissed  her  cheek,  she  whispered: 

"  When  your  sister  Flora  comes  to  see  you  presently,  tell 
her  that  I  ran  away  without  saying  good-bye  to  her  because  I 
ihink  she  would  rather  I  did  not  disturb  her. " 

And  pressing  Kathe  affectionately  in  her  arms,  she  quietly 
left  the  room,  descended  the  side  staircase,  and  left  the  villa. 

An  hour  later  Dr.  Brack  received  a  message  from  town  com- 
manding his  presence  at  the  palace.  The  prince  desired  to 
consult  him  on  some  important  matter  connected  with  his 
son's  state  of  health;  and  as  Henriette  was  in  a  quiet  doze, 
and  her  condition  was  not  immediately  alarming,  he  sprung  on 
the  horse  the  messenger  had  brought  with  him,  and  rode  off  to 
town. 

A  few  moments  after  his  departure  Flora  slowly  ascended 
the  stairs  to  pay  a  visit  to  her  young  sister.  Without  turning 
her  eyes  even  toward  the  bed  on  which  she  imagined  Kathe 
was  still  lying,  she  passed  on  to  Henriette 's  sofa.  She  stayed 
a  short  while  by  the  sick  girl,  asked  her  one  or  two  questions 
which  Henriette  was  too  weak  to  answer,  and  then  rose  and 
left  the  room,  preferring  to  pass  through  the  maid's  bed-cham- 
ber rather  than  risk  an  encounter  with  Kathe,  who,  from  an 
arm-chair  in  the  corner  behind  the  curtains,  had  watched 
these  strange  maneuvers  and  wondered  what  they  meant. 

To  her,  Flora  s  strange  behavior  was  an  enigma,  especially 
when,  as  Flora  moved  away  from  the  sofa,  and  she  spoke  softly 
Co  her  not  to  disturb  Henriette,  she  stared  blankly  in  front  of 
her  and  pretended  not  to  hear  even  the  sound  of  Kathe's. 
Toice. 

Once  also  in  the  course  of  the  morning  Mme.  Urach  found 
her  way  into  Henriette's  room,  dressed  in  a  black  rustling  silk, 
with  a  crape  veil  fastened  on  her  head.  She  looked  so  woe- 
begone and  miserable,  with  the  tears  pouring  down  her  face, 
that  Kathe  feared  the  excitement  would  do  Henriette  harm, 
especially  when  the  old  lady  began  wringing  her  hands  and 
lamenting  the  "  fearful  position  "  of  the  household  in  conse- 
quence of  Moriz's  death. 

About  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day  after  the 
explosion,  Mme.  Urach  suddenly  entered  Flora's  study  with  a 
newspaper  in  her  hand  and  her  face  as  pale  as  ashes.  Her 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

grandchild  was  in  the  act  of  writing  labels  for  several  trunks 
packed  and  corded  in  one  corner  of  the  room;  but  when  she 
saw  the  excited  state  of  her  grandmother,  she  rose  and  went 
over  to  her,  and  leading  her  to  an  easy-chair,  on  which  the  old 
lady  sunk  rather  than  sat  down,  said,  anxiously: 

;<  What  is  the  matter?" 

"  My  four  thousand  thalers  are  gone!"  she  moaned  in  an- 
swer. "  Child!  child!  I  have  been  deceived  by  a  scoundrel,  a 
villain,  and  my — my  all — the  savings  that  your  grandfather 
managed  to  leave  me — are  all  gone!  My  four  thousand 
thalers,  that  I  saved  and  guarded  as  carefully— 

"  No,  grandmamma,  keep  to  the  truth!  say  rather  your 
four  thousand  thalers  that  you  thoughtlessly  and  hopefully 
speculated  with!"  cried  Flora,  in  a  hard,  unsympathizing  tone. 

Did  I  not  warn  you?  Did  I  not  tell  you  to  be  careful?  And 
I  was  laughed  at  and  called  all  sorts  of  ugly  names  because  I 
would  not  withdraw  my  fortune  from  the  funds — that  were 
secure,  at  any  rate — to  double  its  value  in  your  investment. 
Now,  who  was  right,  you  or  I?  Has  the  firm  which  you  joined 
become  bankrupt?" 

"Worse!  It's  a  disgraceful  affair!  Just  read  for  yourself. 
The  man  must  have  been  a  fiend.  There  is  no  hope  for  recov- 
ering a  penny.  I  don't  think  I  possess  five  pounds  in  the 
world!"  the  old  lady  moaned  aloud,  handing  the  paper  to 
Mora,  who  scanned  the  passage  rapidly  and  then  laid  the  paper 
down  on  the  table. 

"  What  I  can  not  understand  is,  that  they  refer  there  to  a 
report  circulated  some  days  ago,"  the  old  lady  continued; 
"  and  if  that  is  true,  the  fact  must  have  been  known  for  some 
days — four  or  five,  at  least.  Moriz  knew  nothing  about  it.  It 
is  very  strange,  and — " 

"  Don't  you  think  it  likely  the  account  might  have  been  in 
the  papers  you  missed?" 

"  Ah!  What?  You  fancy  poor  dear  Moriz  knew  of  this, 
tJid  hid  the  papers  on  purpose,  so  that  I  might  not  hear  of  this 
terrible  news  till  after  the  wedding?  He  thought  it  would 
upset  me!  And  he  knew  of  my  loss,  and — and  it  was  he  him- 
self who  talked  me  into  it.  Ah,  yes!  that  is  a  good  thought. 
I  can  swear  that  Moriz  persuaded  me  to  go  into  that  undertak- 
ing; and,  my  dear,  don't  you  agree  with  me  that,  as  he  misled 
me  in  the  affair,  I  can  claim  compensation  out  of  the  estate?" 

Flora  clasped  her  hands  in  despair,  wondering  how  she  was 
to  combat  her  grandmother's  illusion  without  distressing  her 
by  telling  her  the  truth  concerning  the  real  state  of  affairs. 
had  shrunk  hitherto  from  the  difficult  task  in  the  vague 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR  S    HOUSE.  36tJ 

hope  that  some  one  else  woule:  have  incidentally  made  known 
to  her  the  disgraceful  position  in  which  Moriz's  death  had 
placed  them.  But  now  there  seemed  no  alternative  but  for 
her  to  inform  the  old  lady  herself  of  the  hopeless  condition  of 
the  counselor's  affairs,  and  thus  hinder  her  grandmother  from 
complicating  matters  by  making  false  claims  on  a  fortune 
which  did  not  exist. 

"  Grandmamma,"  she  said,  in  a  low  voice,  laying  her  hand 
on  the  old  lady's  arm,  "  grandmamma,  the  first  question  to 
consider  is  the  value  of  the  estate." 

"  How  absurd  you  are,  child!  Just  look  out  of  the  window 
and  you  will  soon  know,  if  you  have  your  senses  all  right,  that 
such  a  poor  little  sum  as  my  four  thousand  thalers  would 
never  be  missed  from  the  proceeds  of  the  estate  if  it  were  sold. 
Supposing,  too,  that  Moriz's  capital  is  irretrievably  lost,  as 
they  say  all  the  books  and  papers  relative  to  it  are  destroyed, 
the  land  and  house,  to  say  nothing  of  the  works  of  art  con- 
tained in  every  room,  will  realize  an  immense  sum,  quite  suffi- 
cient for  us  to  live  in  luxury  " — she  sighed  a  deep  breath  of 
relief  at  the  thought.  "  Why,  my  dear,  the  furniture  of  your 
room  alone  would  fetch  a  price  that  would  repay  me  for  my 
loss — almost.  How  thankful  I  should  be.  Flora,  if  I  were  cer- 
tain about  my  right  to  inherit  this  house,  and — without  going 
through  the  nuisance  of  a  lawsuit. " 

"  But  supposing  there  is  no  necessity  for  you  to  enter  upon 
a  lawsuit. " 

Mme.  Urach  started. 

"  Are  you  mad,  Flora?  Weak  and  old  as  I  am,  I  would  run. 
for  hours,  go  without  food  and  sleep  for  weeks  rather  than 
willingly  admit  any  other  claim  to  this  house  than  my  own — 
Nonsense,  child !  things  have  not  taken  such  a  terrible  turn  as 
that  yet.  You  are  cruel  and  wrong  to  suggest  it  even.  Do 
you  think  that  I — I  will  give  up  all  this  luxury  and  comfort 
and  the  courtly  circle  of  friends  I  have  gathered  about  me  to  a 
poor  obscure  person,  whose  whole  life  has  been  spent  in  pov 
erty,  and  whose  manners  and  surroundings  would  be  as  out  of 
place  here  as  a  beggar's?  No,  my  dear,  I  will  not — I  will 
fight  for  my  right  till  I — " 

"  There  is  no  need  to  get  so  excited  over  the  matter,  grand- 
mamma. The  old  aunt  living  by  the  Rhine  will  have  as  smaU 
a  claim  to  the  property  as  you — 

"  Who  will?    Are  there  other  heirs?" 

"Yes— oreditors!" 

Mme.  Urach  uttered  a  low  cry  of  rage,  and  started  from  hot 
chair. 


864  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

"  Be  quiet,  I  beseech  you,  grandmamma;  don't  make  a 
r  cene,  please!"  murmured  Flora.  "The  people  down-stairs 
'.now  this  better  than  I  do,  and  are  leaving  the  hcuse  as  quick- 
ly ae  rats  do  a  sinking  ship.  I  dare  not  conceal  from  you  any 
'/onger  the  terrible  state  of  affairs,  and  now  it  only  remains  for 
ns,  as  the  speculator's  dupes,  to  act  in  such  a  manner  as  not 
to  make  ourselves  ridiculous.  You  must  not  look  like  that, 
grandmamma,"  and  she  arranged  the  old  lady's  untidy  locks, 
and  pinned  the  crape  veil  tastefully  across  her  head,  and  fast- 
ened the  lace  round  her  throat  more  trimly  with  a  cameo 
brooch  she  took  from  her  own  dressing-table;  "  keep  up  your 
own  self-respect  to  the  last.  We  must  go  away  from  here  as 
aoon  and  as  quietly  as  we  can — the  whole  affair  is  utterly  dis- 
graceful. No  one  doubts  that  the  explosion  was  a  willful  act 
— in  plain  terms,  the  act  of  a  villain,  as  Moriz  will  henceforth 
be  called.". 

"  The  scoundrel! — the  infamous  knave!"  screamed  the  old 
lady,  springing  up  from  her  chair  and  tearing  about  as  if  she 
were  going  mad. 

Pale  as  death,  Flora  quietly  moved  over  to  the  open  window 
and  shut  it  close. 

"  Take  care,  grandmamma,"  she  said,  warningly;  "  you 
will  be  heard  if  you  make  such  a  noise  as  that.  I  have  noticed 
people  are  hanging  about  outside  j  they  have  been  there  all  the 
morning — were  there  at  six  o'clock.  I  am  sure  they  are  hang- 
ing about  to  see  that  none  of  our  *  valuables '  are  removed — 
the  cowards!"  and  her  lips  curled  in  scorn.  "  They  are  look- 
ing after  their  own  interests.  I  was  told  by  my  maid,  while 
drinking  my  coffee  about  an  hour  ago,  that  the  tradesmen  in 
town  are  furious — not  a  bill  has  been  paid  for  six  months,  and 
you  know,  grandmamma,  at  what  an  expensive  rate  even  we 
nave  been  living.  The  butcher  has  gained  an  entrance  to  the 
hall,  and  declared  that  he  means  to  see  you  as  soon  as  you  are 
dressed.  He  holds  you  responsible  for  a  heavy  bill  as  mistresr 
of  the  house,  and  has  already  been  very  insolent  about  us  all  to 
the  servants." 

"  Good  God!  what  a  position  that  wretch,  whom  I  trusted 
implicitly,  has  placed  us  in  by  his  cowardly  acts!"  cried  the  old 
lady,  bursting  into  tears  of  rage  and  bitterness.  :'  What  are 
we  to  do?  The  position  is  truly  tragic!  What  shall  we  do?r 
ind  she  wrung  her  hands,  the  very  picture  of  despair. 

"  The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  pack  up  our  own  private  prop- 
erty and  every  article  that  legally  belongs  to  us,  if  we  do  not 
wish  to  have  a  seal  placed  on  it  by  those  remorseless  vagabonds 
the  bailiffs,  who  will  be  here  some  time  to-day  When  once 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  263 

Cfeey  gam  possession  we  may  know  that  onr  last  chance  is  gone. 
I  was  just  about  to  fetch  my — "  she  checked  herself  with  a 

frim  smile — "  my  trousseau,  and  pack  it  in  those  boxes.  Then 
thought  of  taking  an  inventory  of  everything  in  the  house, 
and  if  you  won't  hand  over  the  property  to  the  men  yourself — " 

"  Indeed  I  won't — neither  now  nor — " 

"  Then  the  housekeeper  will  have  to  do  it.  We  have  every 
reason  to  say  with  truth  that  we  are  ill." 

Taking  from  a  drawer  of  her  writing-table  the  key  of  the 
room  where  her  trousseau  was  laid  out,  she  moved  away  to  the 
door,  followed  by  her  grandmother,  who  was  bitterly  muttering 
to  herself  angryinvectives  against  the  author  of  all  her  misery 
and  distress.  Flora  led  her  to  her  own  room,  set  her  down  hi 
an  easy-chair,  and  then  went  off  as  quickly  as  she  could  on  her 
own  errand  of  packing  up  her  wedding  finery. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

THE  wind  blew  gently  across  the  tops  of  the  trees  near  the 
house,  scattering  the  golden  drops  of  the  fountain  in  a  showery 
spray  over  the  side  of  the  marble  basin,  and  then  wafted  the 
sweet  scent  of  the  mignonette  through  the  open  window  as  far 
as  the  sofa-bed  where  Henrietta  was  lying.  The  red-leaved 
creeper  hanging  round  the  window  swayed  to  and  fro  in  tha 
air,  as  if  it,  too,  would  Like  to  follow  the  perfume  of  the  flow* 
ers,  and  find  its  way  as  far  as  the  white  muslin  curtains  sur- 
rounding the  sick  girl's  couch. 

Kathe  sat  by  the  bed  watching  her  sister  while  she  slept,  and 
gazing  tenderly  at  the  wan  appearance  of  her  white  face  and 
the  thin,  attenuated  look  of  the  hand  resting  on  the  coverlid, 
not  daring  to  rise  from  her  seat  and  send  away  the  bird 4, 
clamoring  for  their  usual  morning  meal  at  the  window-sill,  for 
fear  of  disturbing  the  light  sleeper.  Every  breath  was  so  short 
•and  weak,  it  was  painful  to  see  it  come  and  go;  and  Kathe 
knew,  from  the  sad  experience  she  had  gained  in  nursing  her 
sister  the  last  few  days,  that  sleep  to  her  was  life.  The  twit- 
tering of  the  hungry  little  creatures  outside  made  the  young 
girl  nervous,  for  the  stillness  in  the  room  had  begun  to  feel 
oppressive,  and  no  sound  in  the  house  could  be  heard  through 
the  carpeted  floors  of  the  corridor. 

Nanni  sat  in  the  inner  room,  working  as  usual  on  some  light 
material  that  made  no  rustling  noise  each  time  she  moved. 
Every  now  and  again  she  looked  up  from  her  work  and  gazed 
curiously  for  a  moment  at  the  "  young  lady  from  the  mill  " 
sitting1  in  the  arm-chair,  who  had  lost  half  a  million  of  mouej 


866  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

in  the  explosion,  and  yet  "  looked  just  as  sweet  and  simple  aa 
over/'  dressed  in  a  soft  white  morning- wrapper,  with  her  fresh 
young  face  graver  than  usual,  earnestly  watching  her  sleeping 
charge. 

"So  young  and  full  of  life,  and  yet  she  does  not  care  for 
gayety  a  bit/'  thought  the  waiting- woman  to  herself  as  hei 
ueedle  flew  in  and  out  in  that  noiseless  way  which  made  her 
presence  in  a  sick-room  an  invaluable  boon.  "  She  is  not  a 
bit  like  Fraulein  Flora,  who  thinks  of  no  one  but  herself.  One 
would  think  she  didn't  know  the  value  of  money,  she  takes  her 
loss  so  quietly,  whereas  her  elder  sister  is  packing  away  as  hard 
as  she  can  to  secure  her  own  things  safely.  She  has  run  that 
poor  maid  of  hers  off  her  legs  finding  her  things  this  morning 
— not  a  handkerchief  will  she  leave  behind.  She  says  she  is 
going  to  Leipsic  first  to  arrange  matters  for  the  wedding  there, 
and  that  her  good  lover — God  bless  him  for  a  nice  gentleman, 
far  too  good  for  her! — -is  going  to  follow  as  soon  as  the  poor 
little  one  is  better.  What  a  proud  thing  she  is,  to  be  sure — she 
seems  to  think  no  one  good  enough  to  wait  on  her,  and  she 
lets  that  dear,  sweet — " 

Her  thoughts  were  interrupted  by  a  loud  knocking  in  one  of 
the  adjoining  rooms  which  caused  the  invalid  to  half  open  her 
eyes  and  Kathe  to  rise  quickly  from  her  chair  and  beckon  to 
Nanni  to  take  her  place  and  hold  the  little  thin  hand  on  the 
coverlid. 

Quietly  and  quickly  Kathe  opened  the  door  of  Henriettas 
room,  closed  it  behind  her,  and  then  without  any  ceremony 
opened  the  door  of  the  adjoining  apartment  and  entered. 

Flora  was  kneeling  down  on  the  ground,  in  the  act  of  fold- 
ing her  wedding-veil,  when  Kathe  appeared  before  her.  The 
long  satin  and  lace  dress  which  was  tc  ?iave  adorned  her  beau- 
tiful person  two  days  previously  was  hanging  from  its  stand 
and  partly  covering  her  shoulder  as  she  stooped  over  the  trunk, 
and  the  maid  was  unfastening  the  orange-blossoms  and  laying 
them  in  a  card-box  at  the  side,  in  order  to  pack  the  dress  with- 
out injury  to  its  freshness. 

"  I  am  very  sorry — I  had  no  idea  the  knocking  could  be 
heard  in  Henriette's  room,  or  I  would  not  have  done  it,"  said 
Flora,  in  answer  to  Kathe's  remark  that  the  noise  was  disturb- 
ing their  sister's  sleep.  "  I  am  sure  it  did  not  once  enter  my 
head  she  could  hear  me.  I  have  been  nailing  the  labels  on  to 
those  trunks."  Her  voice  trembled  slightly,  though  she  spoke 
quietly.  "  You  move  about  yourself  so  noiselessly  that  one 
might  imagine  it  was  the  ghost  of  an  ancestor  doomed  to  roam 
over  the  scenes  of  her  former  *vxifiteuce,"  a  wicked  smile  part 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  26? 

fcd  her  lips  as  she  added:  "  and  mischief  seems  to  follow  your 
footsteps — wherever  you  go  a  mark  of  three  crosses  ought  to 
be  made,  and — "  She  dismissed  her  maid  with  a  haughty 
wave  of  her  hand;  then,  as  Kathe  was  silently  following  the 
woman's  example,  she  flung  the  veil,  with  a  jerk,  into  the 
trunk,  and  cried  out: 

"  Stay  here!  If  you  have  one  particle  of  honor  left  in  your 
woman's  nature  you  will  hear  what  I  have  to  say. " 

Kathe  gently  put  the  hand  aside  which  held  her  dress,  and 
turned  round. 

"I  will  listen  to  anything  you  have  to  say, "  she  replied, 
fixing  her  earnest  eyes  on  the  excited  and  passionate  face  of 
her  interlocutor,  "  only  don't  speak  so  loud,  please,  or  Hen- 
riette  will  hear  you. ' ' 

Flora  did  not  answer;  she  seized  Kathe's  hand  and  drew  her 
over  to  the  window. 

"  Come  here!"  she  said.  "  Let  me  look  at  you — I  want  to 
see  how  you  look  after  being  kissed. " 

The  young  girl  started  back  and  instinctively  turned  her 
head  from  the  scrutinizing  gaze  of  the  impertinent  face  bent 
toward  her,  and  a  rush  of  color  dyed  her  face  crimson  with 
shame  at  being  so  addressed. 

"  You  have  no  right,  elder  sister  as  you  are,  to  speak  to  me 
in  any  such  tone." 

"  Ah,  very  well,  little  innocent;  but  I  in  my  turn  say  to 
you,  that,  younger  sister  as  you  are,  how  dare  you  raise  your 
eyes  to  the  man  to  whom  your  elder  sister  is  engaged?" 

Kathe  started  again  as  if  she  had  been  struck  by  an  unseen 
hand.  Who  could  possibly  have  dived  down  into  the  very 
deepest  recesses  of  her  heart,  and  brought  to  light  the  secret 
she  had  striven  with  all  the  power  of  her  young,  passionate  nat- 
ure to  hide  even  from  her  own  sight?  Painfully  conscious  that 
her  face  was  becoming  white  as  death,  that  she  had  no  right  to 
che  secret  thus  unexpectedly  divulged  by  the  one  who  had  just 
cause  to  condemn  its  very  existence,  she  made  no  attempt  to 
speak,  and  her  pale  lips  did  not  move. 

"  Bad  conscience!  Your  looks  condemn  you,  little  one.  In 
there,  you  know  that  my  accusation  is  true!"  She  lightly 
touched  the  girl's  bosom  with  her  finger,  and  laughed  a  low, 
mocking  laugh.  "  You  see,  my  dear,  an  elder  sister  can  not 
be  duped;  she  is  able  to  read  to  the  innermost  record  the  hid- 
den thoughts  of  an  '  innocent '  girl's  h«art  like  yours,  and 
knows  every  sign  of  the  would-be  artlessness  which  tried  to 
captivate  the  heart  of  the  man  vou  have  dared  to  fall  in  love 


268  nr  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

•frith,  from  the  graceful  tribute  of  leaving  flowers  in  his  room, 
to—" 

A  tinge  of  color  came  back  to  the  marble  face,  a  power  o' 
movement  to  the  rigid  figure.  Was  it  possible  that  such  a 
simple  act  of  f orgetf ulness — an  act  that  she  had  often  regretted 
since,  not  on  account  of  the  construction  that  might  be  put  on 
it,  but  on  account  of  the  bitterness  she  felt  when  the  young 
doctor  silently  removed  them  out  of  his  room — could  it  be  that 
such  a  simple  act  was  to  be  a  cause  of  reproach  to  her  now? 
Anger  and  just  indignation  brought  life  to  her  cold,  trembling 
limbs  and  gave  her  courage  to  speak. 

"  I  acknowledge  it  was  a  piece  of  thoughtless  f  orgetf  ulness 
on  my  part/'  she  said,  drawing  herself  up  with  a  gesture  as 
haughty  as  an  insulted  queen.  "  Whoever  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  tell  you  of  the  circumstances  has — " 

"  It  was  he — himself." 

"Then  I  am  morally  certain  you  have  falsified  what  he 
said." 

"  Take  care!  take  care  what  you  are  saying;  my  patience  is 
Tery  nearly  exhausted,"  cried  Flora,  with  a  sneer,  and  tapping 
her  foot  on  the  floor  in  angry  impatience.  "  You  think  I 
speak  falsely?  Does  he  when  he  boasts  of  his  conquest  over 

The  color  which  dyed  Kathe's  cheeks  a  moment  ago  van- 
ished as  quickly  as  it  came;  she  shook  her  head,  and  after  a 
short  pause  said,  firmly: 

"  I  won't  believe  it,  not  if  you  assert  it  a  thousand  times 
over.  I  would  rather  doubt  everything  we  are  taught  to  honor 
and  reverence  in  our  intercourse  with  the  world  than  that  lie 
is  capable  of  such  an  untruth.  No,  no,"  she  went  on,  pas- 
sionately. "  He  would  not  make  such  an  unmanly  boast, 
even  he  himself  in  the  privacy  of  his  own  room.  He  is  honor- 
able, noble,  grand — "  she  checked  herself  suddenly,  and  lower- 
ing her  voice,  added:  "  You  were  always  suspicious  of  him, 
hatefully,  wickedly  so;  I  heard  that  with  my  own  ears  when  1 
first  came  in  the  spring.  I  dared  not  enter  your  presence 
when  he  was  with  you,  but  now  that  I  know  him  better,  know 
how  upright  and  true  he  is,  it  does  not  hurt  me  so  much  that 
you  malign  him,  you  and  you  only.  How  you  can  find  it  in 
your  heart  to  do  it  is  a  mystery  to  me;  your  notions  of  honor 
must  be  very  vague,  Flora,  or  you  could  not  and  would  not 
speak  evil  of  a  man  to  whom  you  are  to  be  married  so  shortly. " 

Flora  started  and  looked  up  at  her  indignant  young  sister 
with  doubt  and  cariosity  strangely  mingled  in  the  expression 
on  her  face — she  seemed  scarcelv  to  be  able  to  believe  her  ear&~ 


TN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  261 

"  Either  you  are  the  most  finished  actress,  or — a  declaration 
of  love  must  be  printed  in  black  letters  on  a  white  ground  for 
you  to  understand  it.  Do  you  really  know — nothing?"  With 
en  impertinent  smile  which  showed  all  her  teeth  and  made  her 
face  look  almost  diabolical,  she  took  hold  of  Kathe's  two  arms, 
gazed  searchiugly  into  her  eyes,  and  then  pushed  her  angrily 
away,  saying: 

"  Bah!  what  more  can  I  want?  Have  you  not  excited  your- 
self and  defended  him  till  you  have  scarcely  a  breath  left?" 

Kathe  turned  aside  and  walked  toward  the  door. 

"  I  don't  see  what  you  detained  me  for  just  now." 

"  Don't  you?  Am  I  so  obscure  then  in  my  expressions? 
Must  I  speak  more  plainly?  Well,  then,  my  dear,  I  do  not 
want  to  know  anything  more,  nor  anything  less,  than  how  Leo 
Bruck  has  behaved  to  you  since  yesterday  morning? — what  he 
has  said  to  you?" 

"  How  he  has  behaved  to  me?  what  he  has  said?  That  you 
can  hear  in  a  very  few  words.  He  tried  hard  to  make  me 
understand  that  my  blind  hope  in  Henriette's  recovery  was 
false — he  tried  very  kindly  to  prepare  me,"  her  voice  broke 
and  the  tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks,  "  for  Henrietta's  death; 
she  can  not  get  better." 

Flora  drew  back  silently — remorse  for  a  moment  overcoming 
her;  perhaps  also  the  presentiment  that  she  was  playing  a  los- 
ing game  with  these  two  young  people. 

"  Did  you  not  know  that  long  ago?"  she  said  presently,  in  a 
low  tone;  "  have  you  not  often  said  that  for  her  to  go  away 
forever  would  be  a  happy  release  from  so  much  suffering?" 
Then  walking  gently  up  to  Kathe  again,  she  added:  "And  was 
that  the  entire  subject  of  your  conversation  with  him — word 
for  word,  all  he  said?" 

A  miserable  suspicious  feeling  took  possession  of  Kathe's 
mind  that  Flora  sought  an  answer  to  this  question,  not  so  much 
from  simple  jealousy  as  from  pure  vanity;  and  she  replied, 
rather  stiffly:  "  Do  you  think  that  Doctor  Bruck  could  possi- 
bly take  an  interest  in  anything  else  while  watching  by  the 
bedside  of  a  dying  girl,  especially  when  that  girl  is  the  truest 
and  most  faithful  friend  he  has?" 

"  I  know  she  loves  him,"  replied  Flora. 

An  indignant  flush  rose  to  Kathe's  face,  and  Flora,  noticing 
it,  went  on,  with  heartless  want  of  tact: 

"  Yes,  the  man  may  congratulate  himself  that  he  can  at- 
tract and  win  girls'  hearts  as  easily  as  flame  allures  moths  to 
singe  their  wings  at  its  light.  How  the  world  will  chuckle 
tvhen  the  fact  is  made  known  tl&fc  each  of  Banker  Mangold'j 


270  TXf  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

daughters  have  been  foolish  enough  to  worship  at  the  samo 
.shrine!  Stay  here!  You  shall  not  go  yet!" 

She  had  hitherto  spoken  in  a  half -bantering,  half-sarcastic 
tone,  but  when  the  young  girl  moved  toward  the  door  she 
uttered  the  command  for  her  to  remain  in  a  loud,  threatening 
voice  that  rooted  Kathe  to  the  spot  with  astonishment  and 
terror,  for  fear  the  wild  cry  had  been  heard  in  the  sick-room. 

"  Yes,  I  mean  what  I  say;  even  our  youngest  sister,  the 
owner  of  the  mill  and  Mill-house,  stout  of  limb  and  courageous 
of  heart,  has  been  weak  enough  to  lay  her  weapons  of  defense 
at  this  man's  feet,  and  beg  for  a  smile  of  approval.  Oh,  yes! 
you  may  look  as  indignant  and  haughty  as  you  please,  but  you 
know  it  is  true — true  that  you  surrendered  heart  and  soul  with- 
out his — " 

"  Flora,  how  dare  you  speak  so!  You  know  that  what  you 
are  saying  is  false — 

"False?  Very  well,  I  will  believe  you,  and  you  can  clear 
yourself  of  my  accusation  if  you  choose  by  withdrawing  what 

S>u  said  just  now,  with  such  charming  empressement,  about 
s  honor  and  faith/' 

"  I  will  not  withdraw  one  single  expression." 

"  Ah,  you  won't?  You  are  a  wicked  girl  to  fall  in  love  with 
him.  Look  at  me,  Kathe!  You  dare  not,  you  can  not  look  me 
in  the  face  and  say  you  did  not  ?" 

Kathe  raised  her  head,  and  gazed  at  her  sister  in  speechless 
entreaty.  She  put  her  hand  to  the  wound  on  her  head, 
which  was  throbbing  from  the  excitement  of  the  conversation, 
but  she  took  no  heed  to  it;  all  her  thoughts  were  concentrated 
on  the  subject  of  her  sister's  unkind  remarks.  Her  heart  beat 
fast,  and  her  breath  came  and  went  quickly,  as  she  said,  as 
firmly  as  she  could: 

"  You  have  no  right,  Flora,  to  ask  me  such  a  question,  and 
I  am  not  bound  to  answer  you;  but  you  have  called  me 
wicked,  and  spoken  of  treachery;  they  are  words  1  have  ap- 
plied to  myself,  and — " 

"  A  confession,  in  plain  terms." 

A  faint  smile  flitted  across  the  girl's  pale  lips  and  shone  in 
her  eyes,  but  her  cheeks  were  as  white  as  the  linen  band  on  her 
head,  as  she  said,  sadly: 

"  Yes,  I  do  confess  what  I  have  no  need  to  be  ashamed  of; 
but  I  will  not  confess  to  being  guilty  of  the  mean  act  you  ac- 
cuse me  of,  that  of  wishing  to  win  to  myself  the  affection  of 
your  lover.  We  can  not  help  our  feelings — no  one  can;  we  are 
answerable,  however,  for  the  use  we  make  of  them — the  way 
we  indulge  them.  Is  it  wioked  to  worship  and  reverence  the 


nr  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  2T* 

peace  of  a  household?  Is  r>.  wrong  to  admire  the  beauty  of  a 
grand  tree  growing  in  another  man's  garden?  And  I  ask  you, 
is  it  wrong  to  love  without  one  shade  of  envy?  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  either  of  you.  I  will  never  cross  yours  or 
your  lover's  path  again;  you  shall  neither  of  you  ever  hear  of 
me  again;  you  shall  not  even  be  able  to  say  that  I  ever  re- 
minded you  of  my  existence.  How  could  it  hurt  your  wedded 
nappiness  if  I  love  him  to  the  end  of  my  life — " 

A  bitter  laugh  interrupted  her. 

"  Bravo,  little  one!  We  shall  have  you  breaking  forth  inrv 
verse  next. " 

"  No,  Flora,  I  leave  that  to  you;  all  I  say  is,  that  I  feel  1 
have  left  far  behind  me  the  even  and  quiet  paths  of  girlhood, 
and  that  since  I  have  had  this  load  to  carry  in  my  heart,  my 
feelings  and  impressions  are  deeper,  and  perhaps  more  ear- 
nest. " 

She  stepped  back  from  the  door  where  she  had  been  stand- 
ing, and  went  toward  the  inner  part  of  the  room.  As  she 
passed  the  rack  where  Flora's  wedding-dress  still  hung  she 
inadvertently  touched  it  with  her  foot,  and  brought  it  to  the 
ground  with  a  rustling  noise.  Shocked  and  vexed  with  herself 
for  her  awkwardness,  she  stooped  to  pick  it  up  and  repair  the 
mischief  she  had  done  by  placing  it  back  in  its  upright  posi- 
tion; but  Flora  kicked  it  aside  with  her  foot,  and  said,  snap- 
pishly: 

"  Let  the  rubbish  be!  Even  that  lifeless  thing  resents  your 
wickedness,  and  falls  over  directly  you  touch  it. " 

"  Do  you  think  you  are  free  from  fault  yourself,  Flora?"  asked 
Kathe,  the  angry  blood  mantling  in  her  face,  for  her  nature 
was  passionate,  and  she  felt  she  had  been  bitterly  wounded  and 
unjustly  accused.  That  last  taunt  roused  her  anger,  and  she 
forgot  prudence  and  discretion,  and  Henriette,  and  everything, 
and  cried  out:  "  What  was  it  made  me  first  begin  to  care  for 
the  man  you  say  it  is  wicked  to  love?  It  was  pity,  warm,  deep 
pity  for  one  whom  you  did  not  understand,  whom  you  slan- 
dered and  wounded  at  every  turn  in  private  life,  and  snubbed 
and  pained  when  others  were  near.  If  it  was  such  a  fearful 
crime  for  another  to  love  him,  why  did  you  seek  to  free  your- 
self from  your  engagement,  why  did  you  tell  him  that  you 
would  not  marry  him,  that  you  hated  him?  I  heard  it,  if  you 
care  to  remember.  I  was  by  your  side  when  you  flung  your 
ring  into  the  water  and  cried  out:  '  Free,  free!' ' 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  Kathe,  don't  excite  yourself  in  such  a 
way!"  Flora  cried,  pressing  her  hands  over  her  ears. 

A  moment  later  she  held  the  finger  on  which  she  wore  the 


272  IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE." 

betrothal-ring  close  to  Kathe 's  eyes,  and  said,  as  her  lips  part- 
sd  in  a  sardonic  smile: 

"  There,  there  it  is!  I  can  swear  that  you  will  find  no  flaw 
in  it;  every  letter  is  perfect  in  the  engraving.  However,  to 
bring  the  matter  to  an  end,  I  will  tell  you  that  this  golden 
hoop  has  finished  the  part  it  has  to  play  in  my  life.  My  en- 
gagement to  Doctor  Bruck  is  broken. 

Kathe  started. 

"  But  once  before  you  said  your  engagement  was  broken, 
and  he  would  not  consent  to  it,"  she  stammered  out,  breath- 
lessly. 

"  Yes,  I  know;  but  then  the  miserable  traitor  had  a  grain 
of  honor  left  in  him;  now  he  has  none." 

"  Flora,  has — has  he  consented?" 

"  Yes,  he  has,  and  if  you  wish  to  hear — " 

"Then  he  never  loved  you!  and  it  was  not  love  for  you 
which  made  him  refuse  his  consent  in  the  spring;  he  must  have 
had  another  motive.  Thank  God!  Thank  God,  he  can  still 
be  a  happy  man!" 

"  Do  you  think  so?  You  forget  I  am  here,  my  dear,"  said 
Flora,  seizing  the  arm  of  her  young  sister  while  she  glanced 
expressively  in  her  face  from  under  her  knitted  eyebrows.  "  I 
will  never  forgive  him  for  making  me  beg  for  my  liberty  and 
refusing  it;  now  he  shall  learn  what  it  is  to  have  the  coveted 
cup  lifted  to  his  lips  and  then  dashed  to  the  ground  just  as  he 
expects  to  drink  the  sweet  draught.  I  will  not  give  up  my 
ring — no,  not  if  I  have  to  hold  it  fast  with  my  teeth. " 

"  The  false  one — the  one  you  wear  in  place  of  the  true  one 
you  threw  into  the  water?" 

"  Can  you  prove  that,  my  wise  one?  If  so,  where  are  your 
witnesses?  It  will  be  simply  absurd  to  accuse  me  of  such  an 
act  of  insanity.  However,  make  yourself  happy.  I  am  not 
so  diabolically  cruel  as  to  hinder  my  late  lover  from  the  joys 
of  married  life.  Oh,  no,  he  can  marry  to-morrow  if  he  will, 
only  it  must  be  with  some  one  he  does  not  love.  He  may 
marry  for  money,  position — what  he  will :  against  that  I  have 
nothing  to  urge.  I  will  have  him  watched  night  and  day,  and 
the  moment  I  see  him  turning  in  the  direction  I  do  not  choose, 
woe  be  to  him,  and  woe  be  to  her  if  he  selects  the  one  I  do  not 
intend  he  shall  marry!" 

Snatching  up  one  of  the  orange-blossoms  lying  on  the  table, 
she  twisted  it  in  and  out  her  fingers  till  it  was  a  mass  of  torn 
and  crumpled  leaves,  then  she  went  on,  slowly: 

"  Well,  Kathe,  you  love  him;  have  you  no  desire  to  beg  fo: 
inercy  for  him?  Think  u  moment.  I  have  his  happiness  iu 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  278 

my  power.  I  can  give  it  or  withdraw  it  as  I  please.  This 
power  is  a  priceless  boon  to  me,  and  yet  I  am  greatly  tempted 
to  freely  give  it  up,  in  order  to  prove  the  strength  and  depth 
of  so-called  genuine  love.  And  I  will,  too;  I  will  hand  this 
ring  over  to  you,  and  with  it  transmit  to  you  the  right  of  giv- 
ing it  to  whomsoever  you  please;  but  understand  me  thorough- 
ly, in  accepting  this  power  you  act  in  my  stead,  exactly  as  if  it 
were  I  instead  of  you;  and  remember  that  I  from  this  moment 
shall  lay  no  claim  to  it  myself.  Will  you,  can  you,  accept 
the  conditions  in  order  to  give  to  Doctor  Bruck  the  freedom  he 
wishes  for?" 

Involuntarily  Kathe  clasped  her  hands  together  on  her 
bosom,  and  the  muscles  round  her  mouth  worked  painfully 
with  the  struggle  going  on  within. 

"  I  will  accept  the  hardest  conditions  if  thereby  I  can  free 
Doctor  Bruck  from  your  clutches."  The  voice  was  clear,  but 
very  low. 

"  Don't  make  rash  promises;  you  may  be  sacrificing  your 
own  happiness  and  peace  of  mind. " 

The  young  girl  was  silent;  she  raised  her  hand  to  the  band- 
age on  her  head,  and  over  her  expressive  face  courage,  strength, 
and  faith  in  herself  passed  in  rapid  succession. 

"  I  know  what  I  am  doing;  there  is  no  need  to  reflect  about 
it,"  she  said,  simply. 

Flora  held  a  second  spray  of  orange-blossom  in  her  hand; 
she  put  it  against  her  nose  as  if  inhaling  its  perfume,  while  she 
gave  her  sister  a  searching  side  glance. 

"  But  supposing,  in  order  to  humiliate  me,  he  were  to  wish 
foryou?" 

Kathe  caught  her  brreath,  but  she  replied,  steadily: 

"  He  will  not  do  that;  you  told  me  yourself  he  did  not  like 
me." 

"  Eight.  But  we  will  just  for  a  moment  suppose  that  he 
came  to  you  and  told  you  that  he  loved  you;  in  such  a  case  the 
pledge  for  his  freedom  would  be  in  very  bad  hands,  don't  you 
think  so?  For  you  know  that,  once  the  ring  is  in  your  hands, 
you  represent  me,  and  you  would  have  to  say  him  nay;  no,  the 
temptation  would  be  too  much  for  you.  I  shall  keep  my  ring 
myself." 

"  Good  heavens!  is  it  possible  for  one  sister  to  enjoy  tor 
menting  another  to  this  cruel  extent!"  Kathe  cried  out  in  the 
bitterness  of  her  heart.  "  And  yet,  just  because  you  are  so 
selfish,  because  you  have  no  mercy  in  your  heart,  and  because 
you  love  to  play  fast  and  loose  with  this  poor  fellow,  I  will  do 
all  in  my  power  to  free  him  from  you.  You  shall  not  dart 


374 

exercise  your  power  over  him.  He  shall  begin  a  fresh.  Iife5 
shall  enjoy  home  affections,  and  shall  not  be  forced  to  walk  by 
the  side  of  one  who  cares  for  naught  else  in  the  world  but 
society  and  herself. " 

"  You  are  very  flattering!  You  are  far  too  much  interested 
in  him,  show  yourself  too  warm  a  partisan  of  his  for  me  to 
confide  my  golden  bauble  to  your  care. " 

"  Give  it  to  me;  I  accept  your  conditions;  you  may  trus^ 
.oie." 

"  And  if  he  really  and  truly  loves  you?" 

The  girl's  lips  quivered  painfully  and  she  clasped  her  hands 
together,  but  she  did  not  waver  in  her  resolution. 

"  Even  if  it  were  so,  I  will  keep  my  promise:  he  would 
easily  find  a  girl  to  love  far  preferable  to  me :  besides,  he  is  not 
likely  to  make  a  mistake  twice.  Give  me  the  ring;  it  is  false, 
I  know,  and  has  not  the  least  right  to  be  a  link  between  you — 
still  I  promise  to  do  as  you  say,  as  surely  as  that  other  is 
under  the  water,  for  the  sole  reason  of  redeeming  Leo  Bruck's 
right  to  his  freedom." 

She  stretched  out  her  hand  for  the  ring. 

"  As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  judge  your  character,  I  give 
you  credit  for  being  far  too  honorable  to  make  use  of  the  tiny 
hoop  for  your  own  advantage,"  said  Flora,  impressively,  put- 
ting the  ring  into  her  hand. 

Kathe  shivered  as  the  gold  touched  her,  and  closing  her 
fingers  on  the  hardly  won  gift,  a  bitter  smile  hovered  round 
her  lips,  as  she  thought  that  Flora  had  judged  her  rightly  in 
saying  that  she  was  too  honorable  to  make  use  of  the  prize  for 
her  own  advantage.  "  And  too  proud  also,"  she  might  have 
added. 

"  Well?"  said  Flora,  noticing  the  smile,  and  not  able  to 
understand  its  meaning. 

"  You  have  my  word,"  she  said,  raising  her  closed  hand  and 
shaking  it  in  the  air.  "  You  ought  to  be  content, "  she  add- 
ed, sadly,  and  opened  the  door  to  depart. 

At  that  moment  Dr.  Bruck  crossed  the  hall  on  his  return 
from  town.  He  glanced  at  the  open  door-way  and  saw  the 
sisters,  the  elder  with  a  look  of  conscious  triumph  shining  on 
her  face  as  she  caught  sight  of  him  and  coldly  bent  her  head 
in  greeting,  while  the  younger  one,  with  a  hasty  step  and 
blushing  face  turned  rapidly  in  the  opposite  direction,  but  not 
before  he  had  had  time  to  note  the  sad  expression  on  her 
mouth  and  the  frightened  look  in  her  eyes  as  hers  met  his. 
He  harried  after  her,  and  a  moment  later  the  door  closed  an<? 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUS15.  27* 

Flora's  mocking,  hollow  laugh  was  deadened  behind  the  cur- 
tains. 

CHAPTER  I£. 

THAT  same  afternoon  the  bailiffs  arrived  from  town  to  take 
possession  of  the  house.  They  had  been  expected  from  early 
morning,  preparations  had  even  been  made  for  their  reception: 
but  when  at  last  they  did  arrive  the  whole  household  felt  as  if 
they  received  a  shock.  Late  as  it  was,  they  yet  came  too  soon 

Mme.  Urach's  old-fashioned  furniture,  which  had  been 
stowed  away  in  the  lumber-room  when  years  ago  she  went  to 
stay  with  the  counselor,  was  being  dusted  in  the  upper  hall 
preparatory  to  being  packed;  Flora's  numerous  trunks  were 
still  standing  in  the  court-yard  waiting  for  the  carts;  and 
various  empty  packages  of  large  size,  which  the  servants  had 
not  had  time  to  fill  with  the  few  dozens  of  rare  and  costly  wine 
specially  regarded  as  Mme.  Urach's  property,  were  scattered 
about  the  hall  in  every  direction. 

When  the  sheriff  sent  a  message  to  Mme.  Urach,  begging  for 
an  interview,  she  sternly  declined  to  see  him,  on  the  plea  that 
her  nerves  were  already  upset  with  grief  and  excitement,  and 
that  it  was  quite  beyond  her  power  to  accede  to  his  wish.  And 
when  later  on  the  old  lady  was  informed  that  in  consequence 
of  the  furniture  of  her  private  apartment  not  being  her  own 
personal  property,  she  must  allow  the  bailiffs  to  take  an  in- 
ventory of  the  contents  of  the  rooms  and  put  their  seal  to  the 
doors,  she  proudly  retired  to  an  empty  little  chamber  on  the 
same  floor,  and  ordered  her  own  old-fashioned  sofa  to  be  car- 
ried there  for  her  use,  rather  than  encounter  a  personal  inter- 
view with  the  unwilling  authors  of  her  misery.  The  sheriff, 
who  was  a  good-natured,  pleasant  man,  felt  great  compassion 
for  the  proud,  selfish  old  lady,  and  ordered  his  subordinates  to 
place  a  few  small  luxuries  from  her  elegant  apartment  at  hei 
disposal  before  closing  the  doors  and  applying  the  seal. 

In  the  meantime  Flora  was  hastily  gathering  together  as 
many  valuable  objects  from  the  drawing-room  table  as  she 
could  carry  away.  In  vain  the  servants  respectfully  urged  her 
to  desist  and  leave  things  as  they  were.  She  would  not  listen 
to  their  remonstrance,  and  sternly  bade  them  do  her  bidding. 

They  were  hers  and  her  grandmother's,  given  to  them  at 
various  times  by  the  counselor  and  other  friends,  and  she  would 
not  leave  them  to  be  "  confiscated  "  by  those  terrible  Jews. 
But  when  the  bailiffs  arrived  and  the  sheriff  politely  informed 
her  that  she  must  touch  nothing  in  the  rooms-  -that  not  an 


276  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

article  must  be  disturbed  or  carried  out  of  the  house  until  sin 
had  proved  her  claim  to  it  as  her  own  personal  property — that 
he  was  sorry  to  undeceive  her,  but  things  must  remain  as  they 
were,  and  he  must  attach  his  seal  to  each  separate  room,  and 
that  afterward  whatever  article  she  might  apply  for  and  prove 
as  her  own  would  be  restored  to  her.  For  the  present,  how- 
ever, nothing  must  be  removed  from  its  place.  On  this  she 
became  very  angry,  and  insisted  that  she  had  a  right  to  he* 
own  things  when  those  "  things  "  were  her  personal  effects; 
but  he  was  firm,  and  she  had  no  alternative  but  to  submit, 
which  she  did  at  last  with  a  very  bad  grace. 

The  only  part  of  the  house  left  undisturbed  by  the  bailiffs 
was  the  left  wing  inhabited  by  Kathe  and  Henriette. 

Dr.  Bruck  sent  for  the  sheriff,  and  in  a  few  words  informed 
him  of  Henriette 's  condition,  and  how  impossible  it  would  be 
for  him  to  fulfill  his  duty  and  take  an  inventory  of  a  room 
wherein  a  girl  lay  dying;  Besides/'  he  added,  "  I  know  for 
certain  that  the  furniture  about  her  is  her  own;  it  was  a  gift 
from  her  late  brother-in-law,  the  counselor,  on  her  birthday 
two  years  ago,  and  is  as  much  her  own  property  as  the  night- 
dress she  has  on  at  present/ ' 

The  sheriff  bowed  acquiescence,  and  gave  orders  to  his  sub- 
ordinates for  those  rooms  to  be  left  in  peace;  after  which  the 
young  doctor  returned  to  the  bedside  of  the  dying  girl.  He 
had  not  been  absent  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  but  when  he  re-en- 
tered the  room  he  saw  that  a  change  had  come  over  her  even 
in  that  short  space  of  time.  She  was  lying  with  her  face 
turned  to  the  open  window,  through  which  the  setting  sun  was 
hiding  behind  glorious  clouds  of  crimson  and  golden  hues; 
swallows  were  flying  around  the  window-sill,  hastening  home 
to  their  nests  under  the  overhanging  roof;  and  the  song  of  the 
blackbird  could  be  heard  in  the  distance,  mingling  with  the 
cooing  of  the  doves  in  their  cote. 

The  young  doctor  resumed  his  seat  by  the  bed  and  gently 
laid  his  fingers  on  the  dying  girl's  hand.  He  felt  the  flutter- 
ing pulse,  and  signed  to  Kathe  to  wipe  her  brow. 

"Flora!"  she  whispered,  raising  her  eyes  to  his  face  with  a 
beseeching  gaze. 

"  Would  you  like  to  see  her?"  he  asked,  rising  to  go  and 
fetch  her. 

Henriette  faintly  shook  her  head. 

"  No — don't  be  vexed  if  I  would  rather  be  with  you  and 
Kathe  alone  until — "  she  did  not  finish  her  sentence,  but 
began  picking  at  the  vine-leaves  she  had  entreated  to  have  laid 
on  the  sheet  near  her  head.  "  I  will  spare  her  that— ^ke  will 


IN    THE    COUNSELOB'S    HOUSE,  277 

thank  me— and  yon  know  she  hates  emotional  scenes;"  a  faint 
smile  flickered  for  a  second  round  her  lips.  "  You  will  give 
my  love  to  her,  Leo.'* 

The  young  man  silently  bowed  his  head,  while  Kathe's  heart 
beat  fast  with  a  dread  that  she  could  scarcely  define  to  herself. 
Henriette  assumed  still  that  the  old  relationship  existed  be- 
tween the  doctor  and  Flora — ought  she  to  be  told  the  truth? 
She  glanced  uneasily  at  the  young  man's  face,  and  noticed  how 
grave  and  sad  it  looked;  but  he  made  no  attempt  to  answer, 
and  evidently  did  not  intend  disturbing  his  patient's  mind 
with  news  that  there  was  no  express  need  for  her  to  hear. 

Again  she  opened  her  eyes,  and  her  gaze  wandered  to  the 
window. 

"  How  lovely  the  sky  is.  For  the  free  soul  to  be  there  must 
be  very  heavenly/'  she  whispered.  "  I  wonder  if  it  will  be 
possible  to  look  down  on  earth  when  one  is  there.  I  should 
like  to  be  sure  that  you  are  happy,  Leo,"  she  murmured,  turn- 
ing her  head  with  difficulty  to  look  at  him,  and  her  large  eyea 
were  soft  and  tender  in  their  expression — "  quite  happy  when 
I  atn  gone.  You  are  so  good — you  deserve  really  to  be  happy. " 

The  stern  grave  expression  of  the  doctor's  face  vanished,  and 
a  smile  beamed  in  his  eyes  as,  stooping  over  the  exhausted 
girl,  he  said,  softly: 

"  My  future  is  going  to  be  very  happy,  Henriette.  I  think 
I  may  hope  that  I  shall  not  always  be  alone;  or  rather,  I  know 
I  shall  not  if  God  spares  me,  and — does  my  saving  so  give  you 
pleasure,  my  dear  little  sister?" 

He  took  the  small  thin  hand  in  his,  and  bending  his  head 
low  to  her  face,  kissed  her  on  the  cheek.  A  faint  color  rose  to 
her  cheek  as  she  looked  across  at  Kathe  with  a  contented  smile 
shining  brightly  in  her  eyes;  then,  as  if  something  in  Kathe's 
attitude  of  dejection  pained  her,  the  smile  died  away  from  her 
lips,  and  she  said,  between  gasps  for  breath: 

"  Dear  Leo,  look  at  Kathe,  and  let  me  tell  you  now  that 
your  coldness  to  her  has  so  often  hurt  me — hurts  me  here," 
and  she  pointed  to  her  heart.  "  You  have  been  unkind  to  her 
sometimes,  Leo;  I  have  never  been  able  to  understand  why. 
She  has  no  one  to  love  her.  Be  kind  to  her,  Leo — stand  by 
her." 

"  I  will,  dear,  till  death!"  he  said  low  down  in  her  ear,  with 
more  earnestness  of  tone  than  he  intended. 

"  Good — that  is  right,  Leo — now  I  am  happy.  Take  care 
of  her,  and  she  will  stand  between  you  and  trouble,  as  she  h«a 
done  for  me." 


278  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  I  will,  like  the  true  sister  I  will  be  to  him  from  tMs  daj 
forth/'  broke  in  Kathe  in  a  low,  choked  voice. 

A  sweet  smile  hovered  round  Henriette's  mouth,  and  she 
closed  her  eyes  too  soon  to  see  Kathe  turn  away  her  head,  and 
with  a  gesture  of  her  hand  wave  aside  the  doctor's  outstretched 
fingers,  as  if  the  promise  she  had  just  given  did  not  require 
ratifying  with  a  clasp  of  the  hand. 

The  smile  broadened,  and  the  dying  girl  laughed  aloud;  but 
the  effort  produced  a  rattle  in  her  throat. 

"  Love  to  grandmamma,"  she  muttered.  "  I  want  to  sleep 
— to  be  at  rest.  Leo,  let  me  sleep — sleep — " 

"  In  a  few  minutes  you  shall  sleep,  dear/'  he  answered^ 
soothingly. 

He  put  her  hand  on  the  sheet,  and  gently  raising  her  head, 
slipped  his  arm  round  her  neck  and  drew  her  close  to  his 
breast;  and  in  a  few  moments  she  was  asleep — the  long,  deep 
sleep  from  which  there  is  no  awakening  in  this  life. 

The  doctor  laid  her  down  and  reverently  coverei  her  face; 
then,  going  over  to  the  window,  he  drove  the  little  birds  away 
from  the  sill  where  they  were  waiting  for  their  evening  meal, 
closed  it  and  drew  down  the  blind,  and  taking  Kathe  by  the 
hand,  slowly  and  silently  led  her  out  of  the  room. 

A  few  hours  later,  when  Mme.  Urach  opened  the  door  to  look 
at  her  dead  granddaughter,  she  appeared  at  least  ten  years 
older  than  when  she  last  entered  that  room.  She  had  taken 
off  the  black  crape  veil  she  had  worn  for  a  day,  and  put  on  in 
its  place  the  usual  white  tulle,  for  "  no  one/'  she  remarked, 
"  would  wear  mourning  for  such  a  '  villain  '  as  the  counselor 
had  proved  himself  to  be."  She  walked  over  to  the  bed,  raised 
the  handkerchief  which  covered  the  face  of  the  dead  girl,  and 
her  lips  trembled  as  she  said,  in  a  broken  \oice:  "  She  is  at 
rest  at  last;  it  is  best  so;  she  is  not  forced  to  leave  her  cher- 
ished home  and  go  among  strangers.  The  bitter,  hateful 
struggle  with  poverty  is  spared  to — her." 

Then  Flora  silently  entered  and  walked  over  to  the  bedside 
is  if  no  one  were  in  the  room  but  herself.  She  stooped  and 
kissed  Henriette's  cold  forehead,  lingering  for  a  moment  to 
look  at  her,  but  taking  no  notice  of  the  silent  pair  of  watchers 
on  the  other  side — not  even  when  the  doctor  spoke  to  her,  and 
quietly  delivered  her  dying  sister's  message,  did  she  give  the 
smallest  sign  that  she  had  heard  the  words  he  uttered.  Lay- 
ing the  handkerchief  back  on  the  face,  she  turned  and  crossed 
over  to  the  door,  where,  in  answer  to  the  young  doctor's  repe- 
tition of  the  message,  she  slightly  bowed  her  head,  drew  net' 
justling  skirts  together,  and  closed  the  door  behind  her. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  279 

Ten  minutes  later  she  stood  in  the  hall,  ready  dressed,  wait- 
ing for  the  fly  which  was  to  convey  her  and  her  grandmother 
to  the  hotel  where  rooms  had  been  taken  for  them  till  they 
had  decided  where  to  permanently  take  up  their  abode;  for 
the  villa  being  in  the  hands  of  the  ba-iffs,  to  stay  there  another 
night  was  out  of  the  question.  Eveii  the  cold  remains  of  the 
poor  little  invalid  were  to  be  removed  to  the  house  adjoining 
Mie  church-yard  as  soon  as  darkness  had  completely  fallen  on 
the  earth. 

CHAPTER  X. 

ABOUT  nine  o'clock  Kathe  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  stone 
steps  weeping  bitterly.  She  had  said  farewell  to  the  room 
where  she  and  Henriette  had  passed  many  happy  hours  to- 
gether, had  kissed  the  cold  forehead  of  the  sister  whose  suffer- 
ing was  at  an  end  now,  and  had  silently  bidden  adieu  to  the 
only  servant  left  behind  to  aid  in  guarding  the  house.  At  the 
bottom  of  the  steps  she  stood  still,  and  while  involuntarily 
looking  back  at  the  dwelling  where  such  a  host  of  sad  circum- 
stances had  taken  place,  she  shivered  and  trembled  as  she 
thought  of  all  that  had  happened  there  during  the  past  few 
days.  The  soft  night  wind  playing  on  her  forehead  did  her 
good,  and  cooled  the  fevered  flush  of  her  cheeks  and  eyes.  It 
was  a  lovely  night,  with  stars  shining  brightly  in  the  blue 
heavens — a  night  when  all  nature  seemed  wrapped  in  silence, 
when  the  wind  was  hushed  and  the  rustling  of  the  branches 
stilled,  as  if  the  awe-inspiring  beauty  of  darkness  had  calmed 
the  scene  into  quietude. 

Slowly  Kathe  descended  the  steps  and  turned  mechanically 
in  the  direction  of  the  Mill-house. 

She  had  reached  the  avenue,  and  was  standing  still  for  a 
moment  to  contemplate  the  view  around  her,  when  she  was 
startled  and  frightened  at  the  sound  of  footsteps.  Her  knees 
began  to  shake,  but  before  she  had  time  to  move,  the  doctor's 
deep,  sonorous  voice  broke  the  silence. 

"I  am  leaving  town  in  a  day  or  two,"  he  said,  "and  1 
think  I  am  right  in  saying  that  you  will  not  come  and  see  my 
aunt,  nor  allow  me  to  visit  you  at  the  Mill-house  ere  my  de- 
parture? Hence,  I  suppose,  this  will  be  the  last  time  we  shall 
lind  ourselves  together — at  least  for  the  present — " 

"  Never  again,"  interrupted  Kathe,  firmly  but  sadly. 

"  Nay,  Kathe,  you  are  wrong  there,"  he  said,  decidedly. 
'*  It  would  be  a  separation  forever  if  I  acccepted  our  promise 
to  Henriette  this  afternoon;  but  I  do  not  want  you  to  be 


!880  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

my  sister — such  a  relationship  I  will  not  have.  .Oo  you  think 
a  man  would  be  content  with  kind,  sisterly  letters,  when  he  ia 
thirsting  for  a  word  of  love  from  his  beloved  one's  lips?  But 
no,  I  must  not  say  that  to-day — I  know  I  must  be  silent — 
though  my  heart  is  bursting  to  help  you  to  bear  the  sorrow 
which  has  come  to  you  this  very  day.  I  may  not  speak  what 
is  in  my  heart,  but  I  will  say  one  thing,  Kathe:  I  could  see  by 
the  expression  of  your  face  when  I  offered  you  my  hand  by 
Henriette's  bedside  that  you  had  been  told  what  had  happened 
between  Flora  and  me,  and  I  know  that  you  think  I  am  to 
blame  in  the  matter.  I  can  bear  that — but  what  I  can  not 
bear  is  that  you  should  keep  that  promise  of  being  as  a  sister 
to  me.  Kathe,  I  know  that  you  have  been  influenced — that 
you  dare  not  give  me —  I  saw  by  your  face,"  he  went  on, 
after  a  slight  pause,  during  which  her  heart  throbbed  so  fast 
that  she  thought  she  should  suffocate — "  I  knew  by  the  way 
you  turned  your  head  aside  that  you  could  not  trust  your- 
self to  keep  that  other  promise  you  must  have  given — " 

"  Oh,  don't!     Spare  me — let  me  go!"  she  murmured. 

"  Kathe/'  he  went  on,  "whatever  that  promise  was,  you 
must  not  keep  it  long.  No,  thank  God,  you  shall  not!  for  I 
know  that  when  I  come  and  ask  you  the  truth  that  is  in  your 
heart,  you  will  not  hide  it  from  me.  Your  true,  sweet,  wom- 
anly nature  will  assert  itself.  Kathe,  shall  I  tell  you  that  I 
saw  you  standing  by  the  bridge  that  terrible  afternoon — you 
could  not  see  me  but  I  saw  you — saw  you  lean  your  head 
against  the  support  at  the  side,  and  burst  into  a  bitter  fit  of 
weeping." 

Kathe  turned  to  go  away;  she  could  not  bear  him  to  speak 
thus,  but  he  caught  her  hand  and  held  it  fast  as  he  went  on: 

"  I  saw  you,  Kathe,  and  I  can  not  describe  to  you  how  I 
longed  to  come  over  and  take  you  in  my  arms  and  press  yoa 
to  my  heart.  For  months  I  had  fought  against  my  feelings—- 
for months  I  had  crushed  out  of  my  heart,  or  rather  struggled 
to  do  so,  the  love  I  felt  had  crept  into  it,  and  for  months  I 
had  determined  to  be  true  and  faithful  even  to  the  end  to  my 
unloved  betrothed.  But  when  I  saw  you  standing  there — I 
did  not  knew  you  were  back  at  the  villa — I  determined  to  give 
up  struggling — I  could  not  help  loviug  you — I  made  up  my 
mind  that  I  could  not  marry  my  betrothed  wife,  with  a  raging 
passion  of  fierce,  warm,  devoted  love  in  my  heart  for  another. 
No — no!  why  need  I  be  such  a  fool?  I  saw  you  looking  at  my 
house,  but  your  eyes  did  not  seek  my  aunt's  room,  Kathe; 
you — "  he  checked  himself,  but  he  covered  her  hand  with  hot, 
burning  kisses,  and  his  frame  heaved  with  the  strength  of  his 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  881 

feelings,  while  she,  poor  girl,  leaned  against  a  tree  totally  un- 
able to  utter  a  sound. 

"  I  will  not  reproach  Flora — I  will  bear  the  odium  and  dis- 
grace that  I  have  brought  on  myself  by  breaking  off  our  mar- 
riage at  the  very  last  moment.  I  know  now,  have  known  ever 
since  the  first  week  following  upon  our  betrothal,  that  it  was 
the  beauteous  form  and  faultless  face  I  worshiped,  not  the 
woman  herself,  whom  I  had  won  for  my  bride.  God  help  me, 
Kathe,  if  I  have  done  wrong,  but  my  whole  soul  and  heart 
long  for  you.  I  told  Flora  that  I  loved  you — " 

"  Ah!"  It  was  but  a  weak  cry,  the  cry  of  one  in  pain. 
He  could  not  understand  it,  and  would  have  drawn  her  into 
his  arms,  but  she  resisted  him. 

Flora  knew  this,  and  yet  could  deceive  her  to  the  extent  of 
making  her  her  dupe!  She  had  bought  his  freedom  from  his 
"  betrothed  wife,"  but  at  what  a  price!  The  ring  was  in  her 
pocket,  and  she  knew  that  she  must  keep  her  word. 

She  raised  her  eyes  to  heaven  and  prayed  that  the  bitter 
temptation  might  not  be  too  much  for  her — that  she  might 
have  strength  given  her  to  desist  from  drinking  the  contents 
of  the  cup  of  happiness  now  offered  to  her  lips.  But  what  if 
his  happiness  were  to  be  the  penalty  of  her  faithfulness  to 
Flora? 

"  You  are  very  quiet,  Kathe.  Are  you  thinking  that  I 
ought  to  hold  my  tongue  at  least  for  to-day?  You  do  not  an- 
swer, you  turn  your  head  away.  Kathe — Kathe!  I  will  say  no 
more.  You  know  the  desire  of  my  heart,  the  wish  of  my  life. 
But  yours  is  an  honorable  nature,  Kathe,  and  you  will  not 
satisfy  me  now,  I  know.  Well !  I  will  go,  I  will  not  urge  you 
to  decide;  I  will  leave  time  to  plead  for  me.  I  go  away  now 
uncertain  and  unhappy,  but — I  shall  come  back,  Kathe— don't 
forget  that  I  shall  come  back,  and  you  will  then  tell  me. 
Yes,  you  shall  tell  me  what  my  own  heart  prompts  me  to  be- 
lieve is  true — that  you  love  me.  Come,  I  will  go  with  you  aa 
far  as  the  Mill-house.  Take  my  arm;  a  sister  could  not  have 
more  confidence  in  her  brother  than  you  may  have  in  me. 
Come,  and  don't  let  me  forget  to  tell  you  that  my  aunt  and  I 
will  take  care  of  you,  if  you  will  trust  yourself  to  us  on  your 
journey  homeward." 

"  I  am  not  going  back  to  Dresden/'  she  said,  simply,  ac- 
cepting his  proffered  arm  and  turning  in  the  direction  of  the 
Mill-house.  She  scarcely  recognized  the  sound  of  her  own 
voice,  it  was  so  weak  and  tuneless,  and  her  whole  frame  trem- 
bled so  violently  she  thought  at  every  step  that  she  must  fail 

But  she  went  on,  after  a  siiort  muse: 


IK  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

"  When  I  wau  in  Dresden  this  last  time  1  felt  very  miserable 
without  anything  to  do  but  to  attend  to  my  music,  and  the  fe\» 
household  duties  which  I  insisted  upon  sharing  with  Madam6 
Lucas.  I  felt  then  that  I  needed  some  earnest  purpose  foi 
which  to  work,  to  which  I  could  devote  my  energies  and  tune. 
My  life  seemed  to  me  so  useless;  I  wanted  to  be  up  and  doing. 
And  only  a  few  days  before  dear  Henriette  telegraphed  for  me 
to  go  to  her,  I  had  determined  to  speak  to  Moriz  about  it.  I 
knew  the  subject  would  be  distasteful  to  him,  and  that  I 
should  meet  with  no  little  opposition  from  one  who  considered 
that  I  had  quite  *  purpose '  enough  in  life  if  I  devoted  my 
energies  to  making  as  much  show  as  possible  with  my  immense 
fortune.  Now  that  is  all  over — the  formidable  iron  safe  has 
been  blown  into  the  air,  though  I  have  a  very  strong  suspicion 
that  the  contents  of  the  safe  had  disappeared  some  time  ago. 
Kanni  tells  me  that  I  have  nothing  left;  is  it  so,  doctor?" 

"  I  am  afraid  there  is  not  much  left  of — " 

"  But  I  have  my  mill  and  the  house,  and  I  mean  to  live 
there.  Perhaps  you  will  be  shocked  and  think  I  am  going  in 
for  strong-mindedness  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  made  up 
my  mind  to  manage  the  mill  myself.  Are  you  shocked?" 

"  No;  not  so  much  as  I  should  be  if  any  other  girl  of  your 
age  had  announced  her  intention  of  taking  upon  herself  such 
a  responsibility.  I  very  much  admire  independence  and  energy 
in  a  woman,  when  properly  directed;  and  I  know  you  are  not 
thinking  of  doing  the  work  you  propose  for  the  sake  of  power, 
or  of  making  yourself  conspicuous  among  your  neighbors. 
Still  I  do  not  think  the  position  will  suit  you.  You  were 
meant  to  be  the  center  of  attraction  in  a  home  life,  Kathe, 
and  not  to  sit  at  a  desk  and  keep  accounts.  Don't  commence 
it — don't  try  it  even;  for  if  you  do  some  one  will  be  sure  to 
come  and  run  away  with  you  just  as  you  are  putting  the  books 
in  order,  and  not  stop  to  inquire  who  is  to  supply  your  place 
at  the  desk." 

Had  a  ray  of  light  fallen  across  their  path,  dissipating  the 
darkness  of  the  avenue  for  only  one  moment,  during  which  the 
doctor  could  have  seen  the  expression  on  his  companion's  face, 
he  would  there  and  then  have  taken  her  to  his  heart,  and  not 
have  let  her  go  till  she  had  promised  to  be  his,  and  to  marry 
him  as  soon  as  possible.  But  the  avenue  was  dark,  and  he 
could  not  see  her  face  to  read  there  the  effect  of  the  silent 
ttruggle  going  on  in  the  young  -girl's  soul.  He  did  not  even 
hear  her  sigh;  and  he  attributed  her  reticence  and  sadness,  the 
lo*v  tone  of  her  voice,  and  the  want  of  elasticity  in  her  step,  te 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  283 

£rief  at  parting  in  death  with  the  sister  she  had  learned  to  lort 
so  well. 

She  did  not  answer  the  yotmg  doctor's  last  remark,  and  he 
reproached  himself  for  trying  to  laugh  her  out  of  an  idea  that 
was  evidently  no  light  matter  with  her,  under  the  sorrowful 
circumstances  in  which  she  was  placed. 

Presently  they  left  the  shadow  of  the  overhanging  avenue 
and  reached  the  open  meadow,  where,  on  looking  around,  they 
could  easily  distinguish  one  object  from  another  in  light  of  the 
moon  and  stars. 

"  See,  Kathe;  look  over  there,"  whispered  the  young  man, 
breaking  the  longest  pause  which  had  yet  fallen  between 
them,  and  pressing  her  hand  against  his  side;  "  see,  there  are 
the  two  poplars  in  front  of  my  little  cottage.  You  gathered 
the  first  violets  under  their  shade  when  you  were  a  child,  and 
I  promised  you  in  the  spring  you  should  always  do  so  if  you 
would.  I  mean  to  keep  my  word.  I  shall  come  and  stay 
there  during  the  Easter  holidays. " 

.   Kathe's  heart  throbbed  too  loud  for  her  to  trust  her  voice  to 
speak,  for  fear  it  might  betray  the  state  of  her  feelings. 

How  she  longed  to  put  her  head  against  his  shoulder  and 
tell  him — just  once — that,  whether  he  went  or  came,  she  must 
always  love  him!  But  she  had  bought  his  freedom  with  the 
price  of  her  own  happiness;  hence  she  must  silently  endure  the 
pain  gnawing  at  her  heart,  and  give  no  sign  of  how  much  she 
cared  for  him. 

So  she  did  not  reply  to  his  remark  about  the  violets,  but 
forced  herself  to  ask: 

"  Will  your  aunt  go  with  you  to  Leipsic?" 

"  Yes;  she  intends  keeping  house  for  me  as  long  as  I  re- 
main a  bachelor. " 

Kathe  started;  but  he  could  not  see  her  pale  face,  and  he 
fancied  she  had  tripped  against  a  stone.  Holding  her  hand 
still  firmer  on  his  arm,  he  went  on: 

"  She  will  be  making  a  great  sacrifice  in  coming  to  live  with 
me,  and  I  shall  be  truly  thankful  when  she  is  able  to  return 
to  the  fresh  air  of  the  country.  I  hope  that  the  loving,  brave 
heart  I  mean,  to  win  won't  keep  her  too  long  in  town,"  he 
said,  in  a  low,  earnest  tone,  scarcely  above  a  whisper. 

The  light  from  the  mill  windows  was  streaming  now  across 
their  path,  and  brought  back  to  Kathe's  recollection  a  con- 
versation she  had  had  with  Susanne  relative  to  Franz's  widow 
and  children,  when  that  person  had  called  at  the  villa  to  look 
lifter  her  young  mistress  in  the  morning. 

The  window  of  the  room  where  the  family  sat  of  an  evening 


264  IN    THE   OOT7NST:LORyS    HOUSlC 

was  dark,  the  door  was  closed,  the  yard  deserted,  and  the  onrj 
sign  of  life  about  the  place  was  the  subdued  growling  of  the 
watch-dog,  which  sounded  dismal  and  hollow  as  they  drew 
near. 

The  young  man  clasped  Kathe's  hand  in  his,  as  he  stood  at 
the  gate  leading  into  the  yard. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  were  sending  you  into  banishment,"  he  said, 
softly.  "  Spare  me  the  .pain  of  knowing  you  are  alone  this 
evening  with  the  weight  of  this  sorrow  upon  you,  and  come 
with  ine.  My  aunt  will  love  and  cherish  you  as  if  you  were 
her  own  child.  Will  you,  Kathe?"  There  was  deep  passion 
in  his  voice,  but  his  face  she  could  not  see. 

"No,  no!"  she  cried  out,  piteously.  "Let  me  go.  Do 
you  think  I  shall  pass  the  night  in  bitter  useless  weeping,  that 
you  ask  me  to  go  home  with  you  to  your  aunt's?  I  have  no 
time  for  that,  even  if  I  would.  Let  me  go — go.  I  must  see 
the  widow  to-night;  she  and  her  children  have  no  one  to  com- 
fort them  but  me.  I  had  better  go  there  at  once/'  and  she 
pointed  to  the  darkened  door. 

"  Kathe,  dear  beloved  Kathe!"  he  said,  pressing  her  hand 
in  both  his  against  his  breast.  "  Must  I  let  you  go?  It  is  very 
hard,  but  I  must  if  you  wish  it.  I  dare  not  check  you  in  your 
work  of  contforting  the  widow.  So  go,  but  take  care  of  your- 
self. Keep  the  bandage  on  your  head  for  a  day  or  two  longes 
And  now  good-bye  till  Easter.  When  the  winter  snows  are 
gone,  when  the  earth  wakes  up  from  her  cold  lethargy  and  all 
nature  rejoices  in  the  coming  warmth  and  summer,  then,  then 
I  shall  come  back.  Till  then  don't  forget  me,  and  thinL 
sometimes  of  me.  How  I  shall  long  to  see  you,  Kathe;  and 
do  not  let  slander  or  an  evil  tongue  make  you  doubt  me!" 

"  No,  never!"  The  words  were  uttered  with  a  sob,  and  she 
put  both  her  hands  into  his.  He  heard  the  sob,  and  although 
he  did  not  fully  understand  its  meaning  and  chiefly  attributed 
it  to  sorrow  for  Henriette's  death,  he  suddenly  let  her  hands 
fall,  and  clasping  his  arms  around  her  trembling  form,  drew 
her  close  to  his  breast  and  kissed  her  lips  and  cheeks  and  eyes 
with  passionate  fervor,  and  the  next  moment  he  was  gone, 
leaving  her  with  beating  heart,  throbbing  pulse,  and  tearless 
eyes  to  carry  out  her  intention  of  visiting  the  widow  and  her 
children  in  their  hour  of  bereavement. 

Three  days  later,  Dr.  Bruck  and  his  aunt  left  town  to  take 
up  their  residence  in  Leipsic.  Kathe  had  not  seen  him  again 
since  the  night  he  left  her  so  abruptly  at  the  Mill-house  door, 
but  "  auntie  "  had  called  upon  her  once,  and  stayed  with  her 
ft  whole  evening. 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  285 

The  day  following  Henriette's  funeral,  Mme.  TTrach  and 
Flora  also  left  town,  the  former  to  pass  a  month  at  one  of  the 
baths  to  recruit  her  "  shattered  nerves/'  the  latter  to  "  study 
medicine  " — so  it  was  reported  among  her  acquaintances — in 
one  of  the  large  towns  of  Switzerland. 


CHAPTEE  XL 

MORE  than  a  year  had  elapsed  since  the  cold  March  morn- 
ing when  Kathe  Mangold,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Bruck,  walked 
through  the  linden  avenue  on  her  way  to  her  guardian's  house, 
the  sole  heiress  of  her  grandfather's  immense  fortune. 

Whoever  walked  along  that  avenue  now  and  cared  to  turn 
to  his  right  as  he  passed  onward  toward  the  house,  would  see  a 
row  of  pretty  cottages  in  the  distance,  at  the  bend  of  the  high- 
road from  the  town.  These  cottages  were  inhabited  by  the 
men  at  the  spinning  factory,  with  their  wives  and  children. 
The  ground  on  which  they  stood  was  the  waste  corner  bit  of 
land  belonging  to  the  mill  garden,  which  Kathe  had  once 
earnestly  entreated  her  guardian  to  allow  her  to  place  at  the 
disposal  of  the  men,  who  had  clamored  to  have  their  dwellings 
built  nearer  the  scene  of  their  daily  work  at  the  spinning  fac- 
tory, when  Mme.  Urach  and  Flora  had  refused  them  the  privi- 
lege of  building  on  the  outer  side  of  the  park. 

The  towns-folk  were  delighted  at  the  erection  of  this  row  of 
houses.  Formerly,  at  this  special  bend  of  the  road  stones  and 
rubbish  of  various  kinds  had  accumulated,  making  the 
thoroughfare  look  untidy,  and  spoiling  the  effect  of  the  large, 
well-kept  garden  behind.  But  now  the  pathway  was  in  excel- 
lent order,  the  cottages  were  clean  and  trim,  flowers  orna- 
mented the  windows,  and  the  small  gardens  in  front  of  each 
tenement  were  neatly  railed  round  with  green  staves,  against 
"vhicb.  various  creeping  plants  were  encouraged  to  grow.  Hence 
clie  cottages  were  a  great  improvement  to  that  special  portion 
of  the  old  estate,  and  were  regarded  with  an  immense  amount 
of  pride  by  their  owners  and  their  owners'  benefactress,  Kathe 
Mangold,  the  proprietor  of  the  mill. 

Kathe  Mangold  had  carried  out  her  wish,  and  installed  her- 
self mistress  of  the  mill.  She  started  her  new  plan  by  engag- 
ing a  thorough  man  of  business  as  head  foreman  of  the  works, 
and  putting  herself  under  his  guidance  to  learn  the  details  of 
the  business.  By  dint  of  strong  perseverance,  constant  atten- 
tion to  every  detail,  and  determination  to  accomplish  her  self- 
imposed  task,  added  to  her  quick  perception  and  natural  apti- 
tude for  orderly  habits,  she  soon  succeeded  in  mastering  the 


286  LN~  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

difficulties  of  her  peculiar  position,  and  gained  sufficient  in- 
sight into  the  workings  of  the  concern  to  insure  respect  and 
confidence  from  those  about  her,  and  to  increase  the  impor- 
tance of  the  mill  itself  in  the  eyes  of  those  merchants  from 
whom  the  grain  was  purchased.  Day  after  day  she  was  to  be 
found  at  her  desk,  overlooking  accounts,  dictating  business  let- 
ters,, and  superintending  the  general  management  of  everything 
that  belonged  to  the  welfare  of  her  subordinates  and  their 
work. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  her  newly  assumed  authority  was  to 
install  Franz's  widow  in  a  couple  of  rooms  at  the  side  of  the 
mill,  insure  a  small  pension  for  her  use  during  life,  or  until 
she  married  again,  and  to  employ  her  as  an  assistant  to  Susanne 
in  the  cooking,  besides  giving  her  the  management  of  such 
portion  of  the  tiny  dairy  as  was  required  for  the  daily  con- 
sumption of  the  mistress's  small  household. 

Shortly  after  the  counselor's  death,  when  her  guardian's 
affairs  had  been  examined  into,  and  the  full  result  of  his 
speculations  made  known  to  his  creditors,  it  was  found  out 
that  Kathe's  surmise  as  to  the  loss  of  her  own  fortune  was 
perfectly  correct.  Not  a  penny  remained  to  her  of  all  the 
thousands  left  her  by  the  miller,  but  the  mill  and  house  and 
ground  on  which  they  stood,  and  an  odd  hundred  or  two  that 
had  been  placed  to  her  credit  in  a  Dresden  bank  some  months 
previous  to  the  catastrophe.  She  did  not  murmur,  but  ac- 
cepted her  fate,  glad  even  that  she  had  it  in  her  power  to 
work  and  to  help  others. 

Thus  the  winter  passed  without  any  outward  change  coming 
to  the  young  girl  in  the  daily  routine  of  her  lonely,  hard-work- 
ing life.  Now  and  again  she  would  slip  away  from  her  desk 
and  wander  in  the  sunshine  of  a  brighter  day  than  usual  across 
the  park  and  down  to  the  river-side.  She  would  stand  and 
tfatch  the  old-fashioned  house  with  the  golden  weather-cock, 
look  at  its  closed  windows  and  cheerless  aspect,  and  wonder  if 
the  time  would  ever  come  when  she  should  be  called  upon  to 
give  up  the  ring  in  her  possession  to  its  future  mistress,  and 
see  a  bright,  happy  face  flitting  in  and  out  through  the  open 
doors. 

That  Dr.  Bruck  had  loved  her  she  did  not  doubt  for  a  second 
now,  but  she  would  not,  dared  not,  think  that  he  would  come 
back  to  her,  as  his  passionate  words  had  implied  the  night  on 
which  he  had  parted  from  her. 

She  had  often  heard  from  his  aunt  during  the  six  months 
which  had  elapsed  since  then;  but  not  a  line  had  reached  her 
from  the  doctor  himself.  He  had  faithfully  kept  bis  word  w 


IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE.  287 

far,  not  to  disturb  her  till  the  following  Easter;  and  but  foi 
the  increasing  celebrity  of  his  name,  which  caused  him  to  be 
constantly  mentioned  in  the  weekly  papers,  and  a  remark 
from  time  to  time  about  her  nephew  iu  his  aunt't  letters, 
Kathe  would  have  heard  nothing  at  all  about  him,  and  certain- 
ly not  have  known  if  he  still  had  any  regard  for  her. 

While  the  days  and  weeks  were  growing  into  months,  and 
Kathe  bravely  carried  out  the  task  she  had  set  herself  to  do- 
she  had  no  idea  that  her  actions  were  keenly  watched  with 
warm  interest  by  several  people  in  town.  But  it  was  never- 
theless true;  and  many  who  had  regarded  her  coldly  in  the 
days  when  she  was  reputed  an  heiress,  had  lately  tried  to  win 
the  young  mistress  of  the  mill  from  her  solitary  life,  and  to 
induce  her  to  join  their  home  circles  when  her  daily  work  was 
at  an  end. 

Among  the  few  who,  to  Kathe's  extreme  astonishment, 
formally  called  upon  her  to  renew  their  old  acquaintance,  and 
to  demand  her  friendship,  if  she  would  kindly  extend  it  to 
them,  was  the  grandmother  of  her  half-sisters,  Mme.  Urach. 

The  old  lady  had  returned  to  town  toward  the  close  of  win- 
ter, and  engaged  a  couple  of  rooms  in  a  narrow  street,  where 
she  lived  secluded  on  her  very  narrow  means,  away  from  the 
world  and  society,  and  where  her  existence  was  scarcely  remem- 
bered by  half  a  dozen  of  the  host  of  people  whom  she  had  so 
often  entertained  in  princely  style  at  the  villa.  She  had  not 
been  in  her  new  apartments  many  days  before  she  heard  of 
Kathe's  doings  at  the  mill,  and  of  the  success  which  was  at- 
tending her  efforts  to  make  a  comfortable  income  out  of  the 
proceeds  of  her  well-ground  sacks  of  flour.  So  she  forthwith 
put  on  her  bonnet,  hired  a  fly,  and  drove  out  to  the  Mill- 
house  to  "do  her  duty  to  that  young  girl,  her  dear  son-in- 
law's  youngest  child,  and  look  after  her  a  little. " 

Kathe  received  her  kindly,  placed  her  in  the  old-fashioned 
easy-chair  by  the  stove,  and  ordered  fragrant  coffee  and  sweet 
cakes  to  be  brought  to  her  guest.  When  the  old  lady  was 
rested  and  refreshed  after  her  drive,  she  took  her  over  the 
work-room^  and  showed  her  the  different  machines  employed 
in  the  sifting  and  grinding  of  the  grain.  And  finally  when 
they  returned  to  the  house,  Kathe  slipped  out  of  the  room, 
packed  a  basker  full  of  eggs  and  fresh  butter,  and  a  home- 
cured  ham,  and  had  it  carried  to  the  fly.  Whe^  her  guest  was 
going,  she  begged  the  old  lady  so  warmly  to  coi»i^  and  see  her 
whenever  she  felt  dull  at  home,  that  Mme.  Urach's  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  for  perhaps  the  first  time  in  her  life,  and  she  could 
not  find  a  word  to  sav  to  eyoress  her  thanks  for  this  uuei- 


288  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

pected  kindness  on  the  part  of  the  girl  whose  stay  with  hei 
she  had  formerly  made  so  miserable. 

Easter  arrived  at  last,  and  with  it  several  workmen,  to  put 
in  order  the  old-fashioned  house  by  the  river-side*. 

Kathe  had  not  been  out  for  several  days,  but  on  Easter-eve 
:he  walked  as  usual  down  by  the  river,  while  the  workmen 
were  getting  their  dinner.  What  was  her  surprise,  on  nearin^ 
the  house,  to  observe  that  fresh,  clean  blinds  were  hanging  at 
every  window,  that  the  garden  had  been  i(  done  up,"  and  that 
the  general  appearance  of  the  place  betokened  a  return  of  its 
inmates,  if  not  their  return,  at  least  the  expectation  of  their 
arrival.  While  she  wandered  dreamily  around  the  attractive 
spot,  she  met  one  of  the  late  servants  at  the  villa,  who  in- 
formed her  that  the  old  house  had  been  partly  refurnished  for 
the  reception  of  a  lady  guest  who  was  to  accompany  Frau 
Diakonus  from  Leipsic,  and  that  both  ladies  were  expected  to 
arrive  by  the  afternoon  train,  and  intended  staying  some  time 
at  the  house.  Then  the  maid  rattled  on  about  the  beauty  of 
this  unknown  guest,  and  how  that  special  orders  had  come 
from  the  doctor  to  have  everything  in  readiness  by  Good  Fri- 
day, and  that  there  was  "  such  a  fuss  "  being  made  over  this 
young  lady,  who  was  to  have  the  best  room,  etc.,  "  and  a  new 
carpet  to  cover  the  floor." 

Kathe  turned  away  as  quickly  as  she  could;  she  did  not  care 
to  listen  to  the  gossip,  for  her  heart  ached  and  her  temples 
throbbed,  and  she  felt  more  inclined  to  burst  into  tears  than 
to  join  in  expressing  pleasure  at  all  this  news. 

**  Who  can  she  be?"  thought  Kathe  to  herself,  as  she  slowly 
retraced  her  steps  to  the  mill;  "some  one  very  dear  to  aunt 
and  nephew^  or  the  dear  old  lady,  who  dislikes  visitors  in  her 
house,  would  not  bring  her  down  here  with  her  on  a  lengthy 
visit!"  and  the  girl  sighed  deeply. 

When  Kathe  reached  home  her  heart  was  very  heavy;  she 
would  have  given  anything  to  be  alone  and  quiet,  but  that  was 
quite  out  of  the  question  for  several  hours  to  come.  Her  work 
had  to  be  done,  several  letters  to  be  written,  and  an  important 
matter  of  business  to  be  discussed  with  her  foreman,  before  she 
felt  herself  at  liberty  to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  her  own 
thoughts. 

Then  as  the  afternoon  waned  and  she  went  into  the  dining-- 
room to  get  a  cup  of  tea  to  ease  the  pain  and  throb  in  her  head 
which  had  prevented  her  doing  any  work,  she  met  Mme. 
Urach's  maid,  with  a  letter  for  her  to  read  and  return. 

Sending  the  maid  into  the  kitchen  to  refresh  herself  with  « 
cup  of  coffee  after  her  wui*.  and  ordering  Susanne  to  fill  thi 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  norsE.  288 

«etnrr:ed  empty  basket  with  fresh  cake  and  eggs,  the  young  girj 
wearily  sat  down  to  peruse  the  letter.  It  was  from  Flora,  and 
addressed  to  her  grandmother. 

Once  or  twice  before  Mme.  Urach  had  sent  Kathe  a  letter  to 
read  from  her  half-sister,  and  by  this  means  she  had  learned 
»hat  Flora  had  given  up  the  study  of  medicine  and  was  roam- 
ing about  from  one  place  to  another  in  search  of  a  society 
which  would  acknowledge  her  talents  and  appreciate  her  nat- 
ural gifts. 

But  to-day  Kathe  was  in  no  hurry  to  open  the  envelope  lying 
on  her  lap;  her  thoughts  were  all  in  a  whirl,  and  the  paper 
seemed  to  burn  her  fingers.  She  rose,  threw  the  letter  on  the 
table,  and  going  over  to  the  piano  tried  to  play  a  soft,  low 
melody.  But  it  was  of  no  use;  she  could  do  nothing  to-day. 
She  opened  the  window  and  let  the  cool  wind  pass  over  her  hot 
forehead,  then  with  trembling  fingers  and  burning  cheeks  she 
snatched  up  the  letter,  opened  the  envelope,  and  began  to 
read.  It  was  dated  from  Berlin,  and  ran: 

,  "  I  dare  say  you  will  laugh  triumphantly,  my  dear  grand- 
mamma, when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  done  what  I  think  for  the 
best,  and  engaged  myself  to  Karl  von  Stetten,  whom  you  once 
were  so  anxious  for  me  to  marry.  He  is  uglier  and  more  vul- 
gar than  ever,  and  ornaments  his  full-moon  face  with  a  pair  of 
blue  spectacles.  Fi  done  !  I  shall  always  be  ashamed  of  walk- 
ing by  his  side,  but  he  has  cared  for  me  a  long  time,  and  by 
the  death  of  his  cousin  has  come  into  the  family  property, 
tnd  is  now  the  head  of  his  house.  So  I  don't  think  I  hav6 
done  so  badly  in — " 

The  letter  fell  from  Kathe's  hand. 

"  Leo  Bruck  is  free — free — at  last!  He  may  come  and  see 
me  now,"  she  cried,  in  a  tone  that  was  scarcely  above  a  mur 
mur,  it  was  so  low  in  its  eager  joyousness.  Can  it  be  true 
chat  I  dare  think  of  him  now?"  she  went  on  to  herself.  . 
"  These  past  seven  long  months  have  been  terribly  hard  tc 
bear.  I  thought  I  had  crushed  out  of  life  every  loving  longing 
for  him,  and  yet — yet — "  She  clasped  her  hands  together  and 
turned  pale  as  the  thought  crossed  her:  "  Supposing  after  all 
she  is  only  duping  us — that  this  is  another  of  the  cruel  tor- 
menting ways  to — ' 

She  picked  up  the  letter  and  read  the  words  again  and  again. 
Yes,  it  must  be  true;  he  has  rank,  wealth,  all  Flora  cares 
about,  she  said  to  herself;  and  then  she  went  on  to  read  how 
the  wedding-day  was  fixed  for  Whit-Monday,  and  that  hot 

trousseau  was  finished,  andJJiat  siie  hoped  "  dear  grandmam- 
10 


390  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

ma "  would  come  and  ae  present  at  the  ceremony.  Then 
Kathe's  cheek  paled  and  her  knees  trembled  beneath  her  as 
she  read  further: 

"  I  stayed  a  few  days  in  Leipsic  on  my  road  here.  Perhaps 
it  will  interest  you  to  hear  that  the  celebrated  and  far-famed 
Hofrath,  Professor  Bruck,  has  not  only  succeeded  in  making 
himself  a  favorite  physician  in  the  courtly  circle,  but  has  won 
the  heart  of  a  beautiful  lady  of  rank.  I  am  told  that  he  is 
privately  betrothed  to  the  noble  patient,  who  gave  him  her 
heart  in  return  for  his  skillful  performance  of  an  operation 
which  saved  her  life.  Her  parents  are  delighted  at  the  match, 
and  '  auntie  '  is  charmed  with  her  nephew's  good  fortune.  I 
saw  them  altogether  at  the  theater  a  few  nights  ago,  and  if  I 
mistake  not,  ami  tie  wore  thread  gloves!  The  girl  is  very 
beautiful — but  hers  is  a  wax-doll  sort  of  beauty — and  he? 
Well,  I  don't  mind  telling  you,  grandmamma,  that  I  bit  my 
lips  with  vexation  to  see  him  standing  so  calm  and  dignified 
behind  his  lady-love's  chair,  as  if  he  had  a  right  to  all  the 
good  fortune  which  has  fallen  to  his  lot,  and  as  if  he  had 
never,  by  so  much  as  a  hair Vbreadth,  swerved  from  the  path 
of  honor — he — the  scoundrel!  Give  Kathe  the  inclosed — " 

Ah!  yes,  she  had  not  noticed  the  small  folded  bit  of  paper 
which  had  slipped  out  of  the  letter  and  lay  on  the  rug  at  her 
feet.  Picking  it  up  she  saw  the  words:  "  To  Kathe  Man- 
gold.- 

For  a  moment  her  head  swam,  and  her  fingers  trembled  so 
violently  she  could  not  open  the  paper.  Recovering  herself 
with  an  effort,  she  read: 

44  Have  the  kindness  to  hand  over  to  Countess  Witte  at  once 
the  ring  I  intrusted  to  your  care,  or  you  can  fling  it  into  the 
•water  with  the  other  one  if  you  like.  FLOKA." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

KATHE  suddenly  became  very  still;  she  mechanically  folded 
the  in  closure  and  the  letter  together  and  replaced  them  in  the 
envelope.  Could  the  Countess  Witte  be  the  guest  expected  at 
the  house  by  the  river?  She  shook  her  head  as  the  thought 
crossed  her  brain.  Her  eyes  brightened  and  her  cheeks 
flushed  when  his  words  came  back  to  her  memory. 

"  I  shall  return  at  Easter/'  he  had  said,  and  the  young  girl 
knew  that  he  would  keep  his  word,  and  that  he  would  come. 
He  would  not  break  a  promise  given  to  the  miller's  grand* 


nr  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE.  291 

daughter  for  the  highest-born  lady  in  the  land.  Besides,  had 
he  not  said  that  he  loved  Jier — Kathe?  She  blushed  as  she  re- 
called the  loving,  passionate  manner  in  which  he  had  clasped 
her  to  his  heart.  Doubt  him?  No,  never — never. 

She  sprung  from  her  seat  and  went  over  to  the  window,  her 
eyes  wandering  with  a  happy,  trusting  expression  to  the  spot 
where  the  old  house  stood.  How  her  face  flushed  with  ex- 
citement as  she  caught  sight  of  the  flag  drooping  over  the  roof 
by  the  side  of  the  golden  weather-cock! 

The  widow  with  her  guest  must  have  arrived!  Should  she 
run  down  to  welcome  her  back,  throw  her  arms  round  her 
neck  and  whisper  her  delight  at  having  her  very  dearest  friend 
cear  her  again? 

She  must  calm  herself  first — her  glowing  cheeks  and  beat- 
ing heart  would  betray  her  to  the  keen,  searching  eyes  of  the 
dear  old  "  auntie."  Yes,  she  would  grow  calm  first. 

For  a  moment  she  watched  the  dog  in  the  yard  barking  at 
a  beggar  to  whom  Susanne  had  just  thrown  a  handful  of  bread, 
and  then  she  glanced  round  the  large,  comfortable  apartment 
which  she  had  converted  into  a  sort  of  dining-room  and  library, 
the  room  in  which  she  wrote  her  business  letters,  where  she 
Allowed  no  one  to  enter  uninvited,  and  where  she  loved  to  sit 
and  think  or  read  when  her  work  was  done,  and  might  enjoy 
a  leisure  hour  if  she  felt  so  inclined. 

She  quietly  went  over  to  her  desk,  sat  down,  and  taking  uf 
a  pen  began  to  write. 

"Messrs.  Schilling  &  Co.,  Hamburg." 

How  her  hand  shook!  No  one  would  possibly  be  able  to  read 
such  a  trembling  scrawl.  She  threw  down  her  pen  and  leaned 
her  hot,  aching  head  on  her  hands. 

Presently  a  cool  puff  of  wind  blew  across  her  burning  cheek. 
She  looked  up  to  see  where  it  came  from  and  saw — him,  the 
one  being  in  all  the  world  whom  she  most  longed  to  see. 

"  Leo!  I  knew  you  would  come!"  she  cried,  with  a  joyous 
ring  in  her  voice  that  told  the  joy  of  her  heart,  and  the  next 
moment  she  was  clasped  in  his  arms. 

"  My  darling!"  was  all  he  said  at  first.  He  kissed  her  again 
and  again,  on  ears,  and  cheek,  and  hair  till  she  turned  her 
face  from  his  breast  and  timidly  raised  her  sweet  lips  to  his, 
and  in  that  first  passionate,  clinging  kiss  her  fate  was  sealed 
forever. 

"  Well,  I  never!*'  cried  Susanne  at  the  door,  astonished  to 
find  her  young  mistress  half  hidden  in  Dr.  Bruck's  embrace; 
but  a  glance  at  his  happy  face  reassured  her,  and  she  en- 


292  IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUSE. 

deavoreti  to  close  the  door  without  being  heard.  But  she  waa 
too  late.  Kathe  had  seen  her,  and  withdrew  from  her  lover's 
encircling  arm,  blushing  painfully. 

The  doctor  laughed,  and  holding  her  hand,  said: 

"  No,  no,  Kathe,  I  won't  let  you  go  yet.  I  am  afraid  you 
will  repent  that  rash  movement  of  yours  when  I  entered  the 
room,  and  return  to  the  old  reserve.  I  have  you  now,  and  I 
mean  to  keep  you.  Come  here,  Susanne,"  he  said  to  the  old 
servant,  whom  he  had  seen  enter;  "come  here  and  shake 
hands  with  me;  your  mistress  has  promised  to  be  my  wife." 

"  Good  gracious,  sir!  Well  now,  really  I  am  glad!  and  1 
knew  nothing  at  all  about  it,  but  I  am  glad,  and — and  I  hope 
you'll  get  married  quick  and  be  that  happy — " 

Wiping  a  tear  from  her  eye  with  her  apron,  she  bustled  out 
of  the  room  as  fast  as  she  could,  to  publish  the  good  news  to 
every  one  she  met. 

"  Now,  Kathe,"  said  the  young  man,  "  Easter  has  arrived 
and  your  work  here  is  over.  How  I  have  longed  for  this  day, 
words  fail  me  to  express.  Darling,  my  darling,  I  thought  the 
time  would  never  pass!  It  was  so  very  hard  to  go  without  a 
oingle  line  or  word  from  you.  You  wrote  to  my  aunt,  and 
those  letters  were  my  only  comfort,  though  you  rarely,  if  ever, 
mentioned  my  name;  and  then  I  knew  that  it  would  be  best 
to  allow  a  short  while  to  elapse  before  I  addressed  you  in  any 
form,  for  your  own  sake.  But  tell  me  why  you  did  not  send 
me  even  one  message?  You  promised  to  be  my  sister;  surely — 
surely — " 

He  suddenly  stopped,  and  his  forehead  grew  a  dark  red  and 
his  brows  contracted  as  his  eyes  fell  on  the  well-known  writing 
of  the  letter  lying  on  the  table. 

Kathe  drew  her  hand  from  his  clasp  and  laid  it  over  the 
paper.  Why  need  he  know  now  of  the  cruel  torture  she  had 
suffered  through  Flora's  heartlessuess?  There  was  no  impedi- 
ment in  the  way  to  her  happiness  now,  why  then  tell  him  any- 
thing about  the  past?  But  he  firmly  lifted  her  hand  from  the 
table,  and  with  a  glance  at  her  troubled  face,  said  firmly: 

"  Kathe,  I  will  not  have  any  secret  between  us.  Thank 
God,  mystery  and  reserve  shall  be  at  an  end  where  you  and  I 
are  concerned.  There  is  some  secxf-t  in  that  paper;  let  me 
see  it." 

He  read  the  letter,  laid  it  on  the  table,  and  putting  his  arras 
round  the  girl,  he  pressed  her  close  to  his  heart,  and  said : 

"  Now  I  understand  the  meaning  of  your  words  that  day— 
now  I  know  how  you  sacrificed  yourself  for  me.  Darling,  can 
I  ever  repay  you  the  pain  and  misery  I  so  unconsciously  mado 


IN  THE  COUNSELOR'S  HOUS&  291 

you  suffer?  Kathe,  yen  love  me?  I  have  seen  it  in  youi  eyea 
— heard  it  in  your  voice,  but  tell  me  you  love  me  with  your 
lips.  Do  you,  Kathe?" 

She  nestled  closer  to  him  and  said,  softly: 

"  I  think  I  love  you  too  much,  Leo."  Then,  half  laughing 
and  half  inclined  to  cry,  she  added:  "  But  what  about  the 
beautiful  Countess  Witte?  Is  she  not  going  to  stay  with  auntie 
and  occupy  the  newly  furnished  room.-'" 

"No,"  he  answered,  laughing;  "I  did  not  wish  you  to 
know  from  the  people  about  that  I  was  coming,  but  that  room 
is  for  me — just  for  the  present.  As  to  the  pretty  little  count- 
ess, she  is  so  grateful  for  my  having  successfully  operated  on  a 
troublesome  tumor  on  her  head,  that  she  is  a  shade  too  de- 
monstrative in  her  delight,  and  speaks  of  me  in  terms  that 
perhaps  have  led  people  to  imagine  she  and  I  care  for  each 
other.  She  is  a  dear  little  woman,  and  is  devoted  to  a  young 
sailor  who  is  coming  home  this  summer.  You  will  soon  learn 
to  know  her,  for  I  mean  to  take  my  wife  back  with  me  after 
the  holidays. " 

V  Leo!" 

"  Well,  my  love?  Our  engagement  has  lasted  seven  long 
months — surely  that  has  given  you  time  to  consider,  and  if  not 
— humph! — you  must  think  about  it  afterward,"  he  added, 
laughing  and  encircling  her  face  with  his  two  hands.  "  Come 
here  and  tell  me  if  you  would  like  to  stand  by  my  side  at  the 
altar,  there."  He  pointed  to  a  church  spire  rising  beyond  the 
trees.  "  I  love  that  little  village,  and  the  minister  is  a  great 
friend  of  mine. " 

"  Do  with  me  as  you  will,  Leo,"  she  replied,  softly,  with 
such  loving  tenderness  in  her  tone.  "  But  my  duties  here — " 

"  You  shall  not  cast  up  another  line;  your  foreman,  or 
Hither  the  manager,  must  look  after  your  interests  for  you 
till—" 

' '  Just  as  you  like.  When  I  return  I  will  formally  intrust 
him  with  the  management  of  the  mill;  he  is  a  true,  honest 
man." 

"  Have  you  heard  that  Moriz  has  been  seen  in  America?" 
asked  Dr.  firuck,  later  on  in  the  evening,  when  he  and  Kathe 
were  walking  under  the  trees  on  the  avenue,  and  the  lights 
from  the  windows  of  the  \illa  told  them  that  the  new  family 
living  there  were  at  home. 

"  Yes,  besides  I  have  known  all  along  that  he  was  alive." 
And  she  related  how  she  had  seen  the  workman  in  his  blouse 
driving  the  deer  across  the  meadows  to  the  high-road  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  before  she  was  struck  down  when  the  ex- 


2£4  IN    THE    COUNSELOR'S    HOUSE. 

plosion  took  place,  and  added:  "  A  few  days  ago  Franz's  widow 
received  an  anonymous  letter  inclosing  fifty  pounds  from  Cali- 
fornia. She  wonders  who  her  unknown  benefactor  is,  but  I 
knew  immediately  from  whom  the  money  came." 

A  few  steps  further  brought  the  young  couple  in  front  of 
the  old  house  by  the  river-side,  and  a  minute  later  the  noble 
old  lady,  Frau  Diakonus,  had  clasped  her  loving  arms  around 
her  "  dearest  little  daughter/'  and  whispered: 

"  I  would  rather  you  married  my  Leo  than  any  other  girl  iu 
the  world.  How  he  loves  you,  Kathe. " 

"And  how  I  love  him!"  replied  Kathe,  softly,  and  Kissed 
her  old  friend's  cheek. 

Before  closing  the  hall  door  and  going  in  for  the  evening 
meal,  Dr.  Bruck  called  Kathe  to  his  side.  Putting  his  arm 
round  her,  he  said,  earnestly: 

"  Listen,  Kathe,  to  the  bells!  They  are  ringing  in  Easter 
Sunday — and  you  and  I  are  together — at  last." 


TBS  END- 


129315    8 


